. 


MAlE   LIFE 

AMONG  THE  MORMONS; 

OB, 

THE  HUSBAND  IN  UTAH: 

DETAILING 


BIGHTS  AND   SCENES  AMONG  THE  MORMONS;    WITH  REMARKS 
ON   THEIR  MORAL   AND   SOCIAL   ECONOMY. 


BY   AUSTIN   N.  WARD. 
EDITED  BY  MARIA  WARD, 

AUTHOR     Of     "IB  KALE     LIFB     AMONG     THB     MOB  MO  KB." 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED    BY    J.   EDWIN    POTTEK, 

No.    617    SANSOM    STREET. 
1863. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1863,  by 
J.    EDWIN    POTTER, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,    for  th 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


Bancroft  Library 


THE 


HUSBAND   I1ST  UTA.H 


P  K  E  F  A  0  E  . 


ONE  year  since,  with  fear  and  trembling,  I  gave  to 
the  world  my  testimony  against  the  Mormon  delu- 
sion.* It  was  not  a  history  of  that  people,  or  the  rise 
and  progress  of  their  singular  creed.  It  made  no 
pretensions  even  to  trace  them  as  a  body  through 
their  various  settlements  in  the  Western  country  pre- 
vious to  their  emigration  to  the  Valley  of  the 'Great 
Salt  Lake.  It  was  designed  simply  as  a  record  of 
personal  experience — a  transcript  of  events  written 
from  memory  ;  a  faithful  narrative  of  such  hopes  and 
fears,  joys  and  sorrows,  as  any  woman  placed  in  such 
circumstances  must  necessarily  feel. 

The  success  of  that  venture  emboldens  me  to  send 
another  barque  in  the  same  track,  though  this  time  it 
is  the  experience  and  adventures  of  another — of  a 
man.  Of  course  he  takes  a  somewhat  different  view, 

*  "  Female  Life  Among  the  Mormons." 


V  PREFACE. 

but  his  account  corroborates  my  testimony.  He  pre- 
sents a  philosophical  view  of  the  Mormons,  with  their 
moral  and  social  condition  as  a  community ;  but  that 
neither  softens  nor  modifies  the  nature  of  the  facts 
which  came  beneath  his  observation.  It  was  not  from 
ambition  or  the  love  of  gold,  but  a  sense  of  duty  to 
my  country  and  the  world,  that  the  other  book  was 
written.  The  impostors  are  still  abroad  in  the  land  ; 
every  month  brings  the  arrival  of  their  dupes  from 
foreign  shores.  Again  I  lift  the  voice  of  warning. 
Beware  of  their  arts. — Enter  not  the  circle  of  their 
fascinations ;  their  charms  are  like  those  of  the  ser- 
pent, and  lead  to  the  death  of  all  that  is  holy  and 
beautiful  in  this  life,  and  all  that  can  support  the 
anxious  soul  in  its  moments  of  dissolution,  and  give 
it  a  happy  and  abundant  entrance  into  the  presence 
of  just  men  made  perfect. 

I  have  been  careful  to  preserve  the  thoughts  and 
sentiments  of  the  writer.  In  no  case  have  I  changed 
or  omitted  a  sentence,  because  it  did  not  agree  with 
my  feelings  and  opinions.  I  wished  to  be  true  to 
him  as  I  had  been  to  myself. 

The  writer  was  the  nephew  of  my  husband.  Subse- 
quent to  my  escape  from  Mormondom,  but  before  his 
family  w^ere  aware  of  the  fact,  he  took  the  overland 
route  to  California,  stayed  among  the  Mormons  for  a 


PREFACE.  VU 

time,  went  on  to  the  Gold  Region,  caught  cold  from 
exposure  in  the  mines,  and  came  home  to  die.  He 
was  unmarried,  and  in  the  distribution  of  hia  effects 
his  papers  were  given  to  me.  I  hand  them  over  to 
you,  kind  public,  relying  on  your  candor  and  gene- 
rosity for  a  charitable  appreciation  of  the  work  and 
the  motives  which  prompted  it. 

MARIA  WARD. 


THE   EDITOR'S    DESIGN. 


THE  public  mind  has  begun  to  appreciate,  with  some  degiee  of 
correctness,  the  evil  influence  of  the  Mormon  faith,  and  the  true 
nature  of  its  institutions.  It  has  at  least  commenced  to  perceive  the 
extent  of  folly  and  wickedness  that  must  naturally  grow  up  under 
such  a  system,  adverse  alike  to  democratic  institutions  and  the  truths 
of  Christianity.  Priestcraft,  in  its  worst  phase,  is  the  soul  and  life 
of  Mormonism.  The  United  States,  as  well  as  foreign  countries,  teem 
with  these  men  and  their  confederates,  whose  morality  is  even  more 
lax,  whose  delusion  finds  readier  dupes,  and  whose  designs  are  more 
sinister  and  dangerous  than  those  of  Home.  Polygamy  and  the  con- 
version of  women  are  accounted  among  the  chief  instrumentalities  to 
promote  their  designs.  .  To  support  the  one  and  effect  the  other  the 
most  strenuous  exertions  are  made.  Nor  is  it  always  the  case  that 
efforts  to  secure  fresh  victims  are  confined  to  the  use  of  persuasion 
and  advice,  but  physical  assistance  can  be  rendered  when  necessary 
to  abduct  and  carry  off,  in  some  emigrant  train  or  caravan,  such  youth 
of  either  sex  as  circumstances  throw  in  their  way. 

If  either  of  these  volumes  *  should  be  the  means  of  warning  one 
individual  to  escape  their  nefarious  designs,  I  shall  have  been  amply 
repaid  for  all  my  pains  and  labor. 

*  The  Author  here  refers  to  the  popular  work  entitled  "  Female  Life  among  th» 
Mormons." 

1* 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

UTAH— MOUNT  ZION— INCIDENTS  AND  FIRST  IMPRESSIONS— BROTHER  UNDERWOOD. 

Incidents  and  First  Impressions — Brother  Underwood — My  Accommodations — 
Recognizing  an  Acquaintance — An  Invitation — Brother  Underwood's  Ortho- 
doxy— Searching  for  Information — Large  Families  the  Source  of  Disquietude  35 

CHAPTER    II. 

GLANCES  AND  GLIMPSES— COSTUME— SCENES  IN  THE  STREETS,  ETC. 

Glances  and  Glimpses— Costumes— An  Interesting  Aged  Couple— A  Burial- 
American  Residents— A  Beautiful  Girl— A  Variety  of  Opinions— Character- 
istics of  the  Free  Trappers  •  .  .  •  .  .  .  .88 

CHAPTER   III. 

RURAL  SCENFRY — RURAL  LIFE — JUDGE  WHITE — HIS  OPINION  OF  POLYGAMY — THB 
BRIGHT  SIDE  OF  THAT  INSTITUTION. 

A  Disagreeable  Party— Judge  White's  House— Polygamy  a  Patriarchal  Institu- 
l&m—  An  Abrupt.  Question— Conversation  with  Judge  White— The  Judge  and 
his  Wives— Retiring  for  the  Night— Breakfast— The  Half  Breeds  .  .  48 

CHAPTER    IV. 

ALEXANDER  BURNHAM— HIS  HOUSB— TRAGIC  OCCURRENCES—  WEDDINGS— DEATHS. 

Polygamy— Mrs.  Burnhara— A  Storm  and  a  Calm— A  Mysterious  Death- 
Death  of  Mrs.  Burnham     ........      ^ 

H 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   V. 

DIFFERENT  SENTIMENTS— POOH  CLASS  OF  MORMONS— MISERY  OP  WIVES— ETC. 

Comparisons  are  Odious— Condition  of  the  Laboring  Classes— A  Character— 
A  Sullen  Husband— An  Ex-Presbyterian—Maria  Ward's  Philosophy— Ill- 
Treatment  of  Wives  84 

CHAPTER   VI. 
AN  ENGLISHMAN'S  OPINION— ENGLISH  EMIGRANTS— THE  IB  CHARACTER— ETC. 

An  Englishman's  Opinion— A  Call  on  Brother  Wells— Brother  Wells'  Wives- 
Journey  to  Salt  Lake— Brick-Town— Cold  Water  Scarce— The  Bishop's 
House— The  Bishop's  Three  Wives—"  Matches"— Getting  Supper— The  Bishop 
on  Polygamy— A  Lucky  Escape  .  .  .  .  .  .99 

CHAPTER   VII. 

THE  MRS.  UNDERWOOD'S  JEALOUSIES,  MISUNDERSTANDINGS,  AND  REMOVAL. 

Superiority  of  the  First  Wife — Mr.  Underwood's  Jealousy — Looking  for  Board 
—Mrs.  Hyde— A  Sensible  Woman— Mr.  Inkley's  Wives— Different  Ideas  of 
Comfort — Gathering  Honey-Dew— An  Opinion  Plainly  Expressed — A  Sad 
History— Frederick's  Father  .  .  .  .  .  .  .126 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE  DINNER — A  NEW  WIFE — JAUNT  TO  GRANTSVILLE,  AND  WHAT  I  SAW  THERE,  ETC. 

A  New  Wife— Dinner  Talk— A  Terrible  Storm— Jaunt  to  Grantsville— Female 
"Help"  Dangerous — Camping-out — Occupations  of  the  Women — "Swap?" 
— Disgusting  Food — A  Family  of  Emigrants — A  Tempting  Invitation — A 
Mormon's  Villainy 151 

CHAPTER    IX. 

RETURN — OGDEN'S  CITY,  ETC. 

A  Favorable  View — Brother  Ripley's — A  Comfortable  Apartment — Traditions 
of  Ogden's  Hole — Goodall  and  his  Horse — Goodall's  Opinion  of  the  Mormons  174 

CHAPTER    X. 

FREDERICK  B THE  MORMON  THEATRE— MRS.  CANFIELD,  ETC.,  ETC. 

A  Call  from  Frederick  B Death  of  Frederick's  Father— A  Disgraceful 

Scene— A  Burial— A  Mormon  Theatrs— How  to  tell  a  Frenchwoman— Man- 
ners at  the  Theatre— Mrs.  Canfield         .  .          .          .          •  .    18'J 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

j  CHAPTER   XI. 

THE  TABERNACLE — FORM  OF  MORMON  WORSHIP — SPECIMEN  OF  PREACHING,  ETC. 

Assemblage  at  the  Tabernacle — The  Duty  of  Men — A  Plea  for  Marriage — A 
Curious  Guarantee  of  Salvation— Martha  Inkley's  Opinions— Search  for  Miss 
Scott .  .202 

CHAPTER    XII. 
THE  COUNCIL  OF  HEALTH — MIRACLES — DREAMS,  AND  SOMB  OTHER  THINGS. 

Mormon  Miracles— The  Council  of  Health— Sister  Lippincott's  Remedy— An 
Ailing  Party— Sins  of  Omission— Falsity  of  the  Mormon  System  .  .  214 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
REMOVAL— MY  NEW  LANDLADY— MISS  SCOTT,  ETC. 

Family  Peace  I— Mrs.  Snow,  the  Poetess— Angling  for  a  Husband— A  Direct 
Proposal— Exchange  of  Gifts— Mrs.  Farrow's  Humanity— Clearing  up  my 
Character— Miss  Scott's  Sufferings  .  .  .  .  .  .  226 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

CONVERSATIONS  WITH  AN  ELDER  ON  POLYGAMY,  AND  THE  FUTURE  OF  THE  MORMONS 
— THEIR  NATIONAL  AND  SOCIAL  POLICY,  ETC. 

Eliza  Snow  Marries  Brother  Brigham — Conversation  with  a  Mormon  Elder — 
Prospects  of  Mormonism — Manifest  Destiny — Conscious  Security — A  Bright 
Future— Intelligent  Elders  .  .  .  .  .  .  .243 

CHAPTER    XV. 

THE  MARKETS  OF  SALT  LAKE   CITY— SHOP-KEEPERS— STREET-VENDERS  OF  MERCHAN- 
DISE—MANUFACTURES AND  MECHANIC  ARTS. 

Shop-Keepers— Second-hand  Shops— Manufactures— Aversion  to  Outsiders     .    256 
CHAPTER    XVI. 

SCHOOLS— LITERATURE— INTRODUCTION  TO  ELDER  KIMBALL,  ETC. 

A  School-Teacher— Introduction  to  Elder  Kimball— The  Future  foretold  by  the 
Past— An  Invitation  accepted  .......  264 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

DECEPTIONS— RASCALITIES— DUPES— IMPOSTORS— PARLEY   PRATT— HIS  SCHEMES  TO 
RAISE  MONEY — A  BEREAVED  HUSBAND  AND  FATHER,   ETC. 

An  Opposer  to  Polygamy — Mrs.  Cunningham's  Experience — Dismal  Prospects 
—Misplaced  Confidence— Parley  Pratt— Detestable  Practices— A  Traitorous 
Son— A  Heartless  Wife— Determination  of  Mrs.  Hays  .  .  .272 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

THK  MORMON  PABTT—  MORMON  BELLES—  INCIDENTAL  NOTICB  OF  BRIQHAM  YOUNQ 
AND  HIS  FAMILY,  KTO. 

The  Mormon  Party—  A  Row—  Brigham  Young—  Fanaticism  of  the  Sisterg         .    290 
CHAPTER   XIX. 

EXTERIOR  INFLUENCES-  YOUNG  MEN—  DISSATISFACTION  WITH  POLYGAMY—  CHAKGES 
TO  BK  WROUGHT  IN  THE  SYSTKM  OF  MORMONISM,  AND  HOW. 

The  Young  Men—  Polygamy  an  Evil—  A  Prophecy  for  the  Future          T  .    800 

EXPLANATORY  NOTES  ••••••••    SOT 


THE 


HUSBAND  II   UTAH. 


CHAPTER  I. 

UTAH — MOUNT   ZION INCIDENTS   AND    FIRST   IMPRESSIONS 

BROTHER   UNDERWOOD. 

UTAH  !  Deseret !  The  country  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake  I 
The  region  of  saline  plants  ! — the  abode  of  the  beauti- 
ful, the  wonderful,  and  the  new.  Snow  on  the  mountains, 
flowers  in  the  valleys — the  tall  pine  trees  crowning  the  rocky 
heights,  and  the  graceful  cottonwood  marking  the  margins 
of  a  hundred  streams — the  air  redolent  with  the  fragrance 
of  blossoms  unknown  to  the  East — cattle  grazing  peacefully 
among  the  hills,  or  reposing  in  the  shade — the  tall  spires  of 
the  Mormon  temple  glittering  in  the  rich  sunlight — the  Mor- 
mon city,  with  its  picturesque  edifices,  and  busy  inhabitants 
— bustle,  hilarity,  and  confusion  in  the  streets — huge 
family  carriages  filled  with  a  mixed  variety  of  old  and  young 


16  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

women,  and  children  of  different  ages  and  sizes — stately 
Mormon  elders  proceeding  on  pedestrian  excursions  of  busi- 
ness or  pleasure — dashing  soldiers  with  nodding  plumes, 
gay  uniforms,  and  prancing  steeds — Indians  in  all  the  glory 
of  their  national  costume  loitering  near  places  of  low  resort. 
And  last,  not  least,  a  company  of  English  emigrant  con- 
verts to  the  new  faith,  approaching  in  the  distance. 

MOUNT  ZION. 

The  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  called  Zion  by  the  Mor- 
mons, is  pleasantly  situated.  They  are  fond  of  comparing 
it  to  the  ancient  capital  of  Judea,  though  to  find  any 
resemblance  between  the  two,  must  require  a  great  stretch 
of  imagination.  For  sublime  and  picturesque  scenery,  the 
Mormon  city  has  no  rival  in  the  world.  Behind  it,  like  an 
amphitheatre,  rise  the  lofty  summits  of  the  Wahsatih 
mountains,  whence  never-failing  streams  of  fresh  water 
descend,  and  are  conducted  in  small  channels  on  either  side 
of  the  streets.  The  city  is  well  laid  out  ;  the  streets,  which 
are  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  wide,  intersect  each  other 
at  right  angles,  and  are  ornamented  by  rows  of  cottonwood 
trees.  The  houses  are  all  adobes  with  the  exception  of  the 
Governor's  palace.  They  are  substantial  and  elegant,  and 
though  generally  small,  a  few  are  very  large  and  commodi- 
ous ;  each  house  stands  back  a  short  distance  from  the 
street,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  small  garden  ;  each  block 
has  a  bishop  or  spiritual  overseer,  whose  duty  it  is  to  know 


INCIDENTS   AND   FIRST   IMPRESSIONS.  17 

everything  passing  within  his  jurisdiction.  He  must  examine 
every  week  into  the  moral  and  material  condition  of  each 
family,  and  report  to  the  Governor.  With  this  prelimi- 
nary notice  of  Utah,  and  its  famous  city,  I  shall  proceed 
to  recount  whatever  was  most  interesting,  amusing,  and 
instructive  to  me  during  my  visit  to  that  place,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1855. 

INCIDENTS   AND    FIRST   IMPRESSIONS. 

I  was  one  of  a  small  company  who  took  the  overland 
route  to  California,  D  ore  for  the  amusement  of  the  thing 
than  any  other  purpose.  We  hunted  buffalo  on  the  plains, 
visited  trappers  in  the  mountains,  and  feasted  with  half- 
naked  savages,  till  novelty  gave  place  to  weariness,  and  our 
approach  to  the  habitations  of  civilized  man,  was  attended 
with  feelings  of  decided  pleasure.  When  the  saints  from 
the  United  States,  or  other  parts  of  the  world,  arrive  within 
sight  of  the  city,  they  prostrate  themselves  to  the  earth  like 
the  Mohammedans  when  they  discover  the  sacred  edifices  of 
Mecca  ;  in  our  case,  however,  the  discovery  of  its  gleam- 
ing habitations  was  only  hailed  by.  a  shout  of  joy,  and 
accelerated  speed  along  the  well-worn  road.  This  road, 
though  generally  good,  was  quite  as  remarkable  as  other 
things  belonging  to  the  same  territory.  It  went  bending, 
hither  and  thither,  first  to  to  the  right,  then  to  the  left, 
winding  around  the  mountain  spurs,  and  the  bases  of  hills, 
till  finally  reaching  the  plain  on  which  the  city  stands,  wo 


18  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAFT. 

entered  it  just  as  the  sun  was  declining  in  the  western 
horizon,  and  the  shadows  of  night  began  to  gather  on  the 
mountain  tops.  Of  course  our  first  desire  was  to  obtain 
shelter  and  food,  not  only  for  that  night,  but  several  weeks. 
Zion  was  crowded  with  visitors,  travellers,  and  emigrants, 
under  similar  necessities.  There  are  some  persons  who  for 
a  consideration  will  supply  what  we  want — I  say  for  a  con. 
side  ration — the  Mormon  brethren  in  this  respect  resembling 
the  Jews  of  old,  who  while  affecting  to  despise  the  Gen- 
tiles, were  at  the  same  time  strongly  enamored  of  Gentile 
gold.  We  applied  for  lodgings  at  the  United  States  Hotel, 
kept  by  the  Hon.  Mr.  Kinney,  U.  S.  judge  for  the  terri- 
tory of  Utah,  but  to  our  great  disappointment  his  house  was 
full.  He  likewise  expressed  regret,  but  gave  us  directions- 
to  a  smaller  and  much  inferior  establishment,  kept  by  a 
Mormon — Brother  Underwood. 

"  BROTHER   UNDERWOOD  1" 

I  said  to  myself,  walking  in  the  direction  of  his  house, 
"  that  name  sounds  familiar,"  and  I  patiently  strove  to  recall 
where  or  under  what  circumstances  I  became  acquainted 
with  its  owner.  Thus  meditating,  I  reached  the  domicile. 
It  was  now  nearly  dark  ;  there  was  no  candle  or  lamp  burn- 
ing, and  I  could  obtain  only  a  very  unsatisfactory  glimpse 
of  my  host.  Yet  his  manner  was  kind  and  cordial,  and 
he  spoke  in  a  frank  cheerful  voice.  I  told  him  my  necessi- 
ties. He  said,  very  well,  he  would  see,  and  disappeared. 


BROTHER   UNDEKWOOD.  19 

The  formality  usual  in  Eastern  hotels  was  entirely  dis- 
pensed with  here.  There  was  no  registry  of  names,  and 
there  seemed  to  be  no  clerks  or  assistants,  with  the  exception 
of  a  small  boy,  who  acted  in  the  double  capacity  of  errand 
runner  and  bar-tender.  At  present  he  sat  dozing  behind 
a  small  counter,  apparently  unconscious  of  the  presence  of 
a  stranger  ;  meanwhile  we  heard  some  one  (whom  we  sup- 
posed to  be  our  host)  running  up  and  down  stairs,  opening 
and  shutting  doors,  and  calling  through  the  rooms,  "Nelly, 
Kelly!"  After  an  absence  sufficiently  prolonged  to  have 
cooked  and  prepared  a  good  supper,  he  returned  with  the 
dismal  intelligence  that  there  was  no  one  in  the  house  who 
could  get  us  anything  to  eat,  but  that  he  would  show  us 
to  our  apartments  if  we  desired  to  remain.  My  companions 
angrily  expostulated  with  the  man.  He  excused  the  matter 
by  throwing  the  blame  on  his  wives  ;  they  generally  took 
turns,  he  said,  in  going  out,  and  the  one  whose  duty  it 
was  to  stay  at  home,  had  neglected  or  forgotten  it.  He 
supposed  she  was  at  a  neighbor's,  though  where,  it  would  be 
impossible  to  tell.  All  but  myself  decided  to  depart.  I  was 
secure  of  a  shelter,  that  was  half  I  sought,  and  I  hoped  that 
the  remainder  might  be  forthcoming  ;  so  taking  up  my  tra- 
velling-bag, I  bade  my  companions  call  on  me  the  ensuing 
day,  and  with  a  hearty  "  gdfed  night,"  prepared  to  follow 
my  obsequious  host.  The  room  to  which  he  consigned  me 
was  a  sort  of  little  cell.  He  had  brought  up  in  his  hand  a 
short  piece  of  tallow  candle,  contained  in  an  iron  can- 


20  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

dlestick,  which  to  judge  from  its  appearance,  might  have 
been  coeval  with  Noah's  ark.  This  he  placed  on  a  rude 
semblance  of  a  table,  and  unceremoniously  withdrew.  I 
scarcely  had  courage  to  inspect  the  apartment.  I  hoped  that 
the  roof  was  tight,  and  the  bed  clean.  I  hoped  too,  that 
by-and-by  I  might  be  summoned  to  supper,  though  my 
better  judgment  rebelled  against  such  anticipations.  On 
rummaging  my  pockets,  however,  I  found  the  remains  of  a 
broken  cracker,  and  a  small  portion  of  dried  fruit,  which 
had  hitherto  escaped  my  notice.  This  I  ate,  and  commend- 
ing myself  to  Divine  Providence,  retired  to  bed,  though 
determining  to  lie  awake,  at  least,  until  the  candle  .burnt  out. 
The  more  I  saw  of  Brother  Underwood  the  more  firmly  I 
became  convinced  that  I  had  been  previously  acquainted 
with  him.  At  length,  with  a  sudden  flash  of  thought,  I 
remembered  the  time  and  circumstances.  It  was  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  My  introduction  to  him  was  merely 
casual,  though  with  the  woman  he  subsequently  married .  I 
was  intimately  acquainted.  How  exceedingly  strange  I 
Would  she  know  me  ?  Would  she  receive  me  as  a  friend  ? 
I  questioned.  Only  those  who  have  been  far  from  home 
and  friends  can  realize  with  what  delight  I  anticipated 
meeting  with  an  old  acquaintance,  in  whose  society  some  of 
the  happiest  days  in  my  lif^had  been  spent.  Then  it 
occurred  to  me  that  I  might  be  mistaken,  and  having  by 
this  time  relinquished  all  hopes  of  supper,  I  saw  the  candle 
swale,  flare,  and  flicker  without  reluctance.  A  moment 


MY    ACCOMMODATIONS.  21 

more  it  blazed,  flashed  up  suddenly,  then  the  wick  fell  over 
to  one  side,  became  saturated  in  the  melted  tallow,  and  all 
was  darkness. 

I  cannot  say  that  my  bed  reminded  me  of  any  I  had  ever 
slept  in  before  ;  for  to  tell  the  truth,  it  did  not.  Though 
not  much  inclined  to  luxuriousness,  I  found  it  hard,  cold, 
and  uncomfortable.  It  was  yet  early  in  the  season,  and 
cool  nights  are  characteristic  of  the  climate  of  Utah,  even 
in  the  midst  of  summer.  I  wished  for  a  warm  quilt  or  cover- 
lid, but  as  none  could  be  had,  determined  to  be  satisfied 
without  it.  After  all,  there  is  no  philosophy  like  that  which 
prompts  a  man  to  conform  to  circumstances,  and  make  the 
best  of  everything.  With  these  feelings  I  composed  myself 
to  rest,  and  soon  fell  asleep.  I  awoke  in  the  morning  with 
a  gnawing  sensation  of  hunger,  and  actually  shivering  with 
cold.  Silence  prevailed  throughout  the  house,  and  no  one 
seemed  to  be  stirring,  though  it  was  broad  day.  I  had  full 
leisure  and  opportunity  to  examine  my  room  and  its  con- 
comitants. I  found  it  a  hard  thing,  indeed,  to  be  satisfied 
therewith,  and  unavoidably  found  myself  wishing  that  its 
general  appearance  were  otherwise.  Notwithstanding  all 
my  philosophy,  I  felt  that  my  satisfaction  would  be  greater 
were  more  neatness  and  taste  displayed  in  its  arrangements. 
I  had  been  accustomed  to  lave  my  hands  and  face  in  the 
fresh  mountain  springs,  and  could  not  be  content  with  the 
quart  bowl  of  water  prepared  for  my  use.  Then  the  napkin, 
had  evidently  grown  old  in  some  other  employment  before 
being  applied  to  its.  present  purpose.  I  think  that  if  the 


22  THE    HUSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

floor  had  been  well  scrubbed  and  sanded,  this  smaL  piece 
of  old,  dusty,  faded  rag  carpet  might  be  happily  dispensed 
with.  The  uncurtained  window  looks  unpleasant,  the  glass 
being  so  dingy  that  before  looking  through  it  to  obtain  a 
view  of  the  mountains,  I  am  obliged  to  wash  it  with  the 
napkin,  in  which  laudable  endeavor  to  exercise  the  vocation 
of  chamber-maid,  I  pushed  out  one  of  the  panes.  It  fell  to 
the  ground  an*l  broke  with  a  crash,  probably  awaking  the 
family,  as  I  heard  them  moving  about  soon  after.  In 
attempting  to  seat  myself  on  one  of  the  chairs,  it  let  me 
sprawling  to  the  floor,  and  I  ascertained  that,  one  leg  being 
broken,  it  could  only  be  retained  in  an  upright  position 
while  standing  with  its  back  to  the  wall.  My  table  had 
evidently  been  a  stranger  to  hydropathy  for  a  very  long 
time.  Instead  of  a  lock,  my  door  was  fastened  with  a  wooden 
button.  The  fireplace  was  filled  with  ashes  and  cinders, 
while  the  jambs  were  literally  festooned  with  pendent  webs. 

I  look  around  for  a  bell.  The  apartment  is  not  furnished 
with  any  such  convenience.  I  think  of  ordering  a  fire.  I 
wonder  when  breakfast  will  be  ready.  I  ponder  the  best 
way  of  making  myself  known  to  the  landlady.  I  muse  on  a 
thousand  other  things,  till  tired  out  of  all  patience  with  wait- 
ing to  be  summoned  below,  I  hastily  descended  and  made 
my  way  to  the  bar-room  without  formality. 

I  found  Brother  Underwood  in  the  bar.  He  was  quietly 
munching  a  hard  brown  lump,  designated  a  rusk.  He 
looked  up,  and  his  broad  features  relaxed  into  a  smile. 

"  Got  in  a  hurry  for  breakfast,  eh  ?"  he  inquired 


RECOGNIZING   AN   ACQUAINTANCE.  23 

I  replied  in  the  affirmative,  reminding  him  that  I  had  no 
supper  the  night  before. 

"  Ah  yes,"  he  answered,  "  I  recollect,  Nelly  was  out." 

I  paid  no  attention  to  this  remark,  but  again  referred  to 
the  morning  meal. 

"  Certainly,  certainly,"  he  said,  "  it  will  soon  be 
ready." 

There  was  certainly  a  great  rush  of  business  going  on  in 
a  neighboring  apartment,  and  as  my  host  seemed  communi- 
cative, lively,  and  amiable,  I  sat  down  to  wait  patiently  and 
converse  with  him. 

"  How  long  have  you  been  in  Utah  ?"  I  ventured  to 
inquire. 

"  About  five  years,"  he  replied,  musingly. 

"  And  you  removed  from  Cortland  County,  in  the  State 
of  New  York." 

"  Why  do  you  ask  ?" 

"Because  your  voice,  and  face,  and  name,  strongly 
remind  me  of  one  with  whom  I  was  formerly  acquainted." 

"  Your  name  ?"  he  inquired. 

I  mentioned  it. 

He  looked  earnestly  in  my  face  for  a  minute  or  two. 
"  Yes,"  he  observed,  "  I  have  a  faint  recollection  of  your 
features,  and  I  have  heard  my  wife  speak  of  you." 

"  Her  name  was  Maria  R " 

He  assented,  and  held  out  his  hand. 

I  met  his  grasp  with  a  cordial  pressure. 

"  I  shall  be  most  happy  to  see  her,"  I  observed. 


2-i  TIIE    HUSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

"  You  will  probably  meet  at  breakfast,"  he  said.  "  I 
wonder  whether  or  not  she  will  know  you  ?" 
'  Probably  an  hour  elapsed  before  we  were  summoned  to 
breakfast,  and  then  a  faded  woman  came  to  the  door  with 
the  announcement.  I  directed  an  inquiring  glance  towards 
my  host. 

"  My  second  wife,"  he  remarked. 

"Oh,  I  beg  pardon." 

"  No  apologies  are  necessary,"  he  replied,  leading  the 
way  to  the  breakfast  room.  Half  a  dozen  women,  all  the 
wives  of  my  host,  were  standing  around.  I  knew  Maria  at 
a  glance,  though  she  gave  me  no  look  or  token  of  recogni- 
tion. Her  husband  smiled,  and  inquired  if  she  had  forgotten 
an  old  friend ;  she  gazed  curiously  in  my  face,  then  her 
countenance  lighted  up,  and  she  cordially  offered  her  hand. 

Our  meeting,  however,  under  such  circumstances  was  one 
of  painful  embarrassment.  I  could  not  help  speculating  on 
the  appearance  of  Maria  compared  to  what  it  had  formerly 
been.  I  had  known  her  as  one  of  the  most  tidy  and  indus- 
trious of  girls,  and  now  her  dress  and  manner  were  indica- 
tive of  the  utmost  carelessness  and  negligence,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  want  of  neatness  conspicuous  in  every  part  of  the 
house.  Though  my  hunger  gave  it  a  zest,  the  breakfast  was 
anything  but  good.  There  was  not  a  dish  on  the  table 
even  tolerably  well  cooked.  The  coffee  was  bitter  and 
"  muddy,"  the  meat  burned,  the  bread  half  dough,  and  the 
butter — but  I  forbear  to  speak  of  that — it  looked  inde- 
Ecribably,  and  I  did  not  taste  it 


AN    INVITATION.  25 

"  As  you  are  an  old  acquaintance,"  said  Underwood,  "  I 
shall  expect  you  to  make  my  house  your  home  during  your 
stay  in  this  place.  You  can  scarcely  expect  to  "be  better 
accommodated.  Quiet  is  a  great  thing,  sir,  a  very  great 
thing.  I  have  no  boarders  except  my  family,  and  little 
custom.  Of  course,  I  don't  want  much — -just  a  little  to 
bring  in  a  trifle  of  change,  is  all  that  I  desire.  It  is  expen- 
sive living  here,  very — so  many  mouths  to  fill,"  and  he 
glanced  at  his  wives. 

"  How  long  did  you  design  staying  ?"  inquired  Maria. 

"  That  depends  on  circumstances." 

"  You  will  stay  with  us,  I  will  see  that  you  have  com- 
fortable accommodations,"  said  Maria. 

"All  the  other  houses  of  entertainment  are  full,"  con- 
tinued Underwood.  "  They  always  are.  The  brethren 
moved  out  here  to  be  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  world, 
and  build  up  a  righteous  and  holy  kingdom,  but  it  seems 
that  the  world  cannot  do  without  them." 

Maria  turned  her  eyes  towards  him  imploringly. 

"  I  should  suppose  that  my  companions  would  soon  be 
here,"  I  observed,  wishing  to  change  the  conversation  ;  nor 
was  I  mistaken.  On  rising  from  from  the  table,  I  heard 
voices  in  the  bar-room.  "  They  have  come,"  I  ejaculated, 
and  taking  French  leave  of  the  ladies,  went  out  to  meet  them, 

"  And  what  do  you  think  of  Mormondom  ?"  inquired 
Harry  Buck,  the  moment  we  were  out  of  the  house. 

"  I  shall  reply  by  retorting  the  same  question,"  I  answer- 
ed. "  What  do  you  think  of  it  ?" 

2 


26  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

"  What  will  induce  me  to  get  away  as  soon  as  possible, * 
he  said.  "  We  are  going  on  to-morrow." 

"  To-morrow  1"  I  exclaimed  with  surprise. 

"  You  needn't  look  so  scared  up,"  he  said,  kughing.  "  Is 
it  strange  that  a  man  should  wish  to  leave  a  place  where  he 
can  get  no  food  but  roasted  potatoes,  and  no  shelter  but  an 
old  emigrant  wagon  cover." 

"  Has  this  been  your  fare  ?" 

"  Certainly  it  has.  We  went  around  to  the  different 
houses  of  entertainment,  but  all  were  full.  We  could  pre- 
sent no  claim  to  the  hospitality  of  the  Saints,  and  had  not 
an  old  Indian  fortunately  come  to  our  assistance,  we  should 
have  been  compelled  to  pass  the  night  in  the  streets,  or  to 
have  sought  you  out  with  a  certainty  of  not  getting  any 
supper." 

"  And  the  old  fellow  took  pity  on  your  forlorn  con- 
dition ?" 

"  He  did.  He  cheerfully  shared  his  bed  and  food  with 
as.  It  was  poor  and  scant  to  be  sure,  and  only  better  than 
none." 

"  Is  he  a  Mormon  ?" 

"  A  Mormon  1  No  ;  he  hates  and  despises  the  whole  sect 
• — says  they  are  thieves,  liars,  and  devils  ;  in  short,  the 
greatest  rascals  in  existence." 

"  That  may  be  alt  true,"  I  replied,  "  yet  I  prefer  to  have 
evidence  of  the  fact.  I  have  succeeded  in  finding  an  old 
friend,  and  shall  remain  some  time,  probably  all  summer." 

They  tried  in  vain  to  dissuade  me,  but  my  resolution  once 


BROTHER  UNDERWOOD'S  ORTHODOXY.  27 

taken  was  not  easily  moved.  Various  reasons  which  it  is 
not  necessary  to  repeat,  influenced  my  decision,  and  the 
matter  was  settled. 

I  found  a  manifest  improvement  in  the  appearance  of 
things  at  Brother  Underwood's  when  I  returned  at  night. 
The  floors  had  been  newly  swept,  the  webs  brushed  away, 
and  the  dingy  windows  cleansed.  When  I  ascended  to  my 
room  of  the  previous  evening,  I  found  that  the  good  work 
had  extended  even  there.  A  cheerful  fire  was  burning  on 
the  hearth,  the  broken  chair  had  been  removed,  and  so  many 
little  additions  to  comfort  and  convenience  had  been  furnish- 
ed that  the  transformation  was  complete.  I  could  easily 
guess  who  had  done  this,  and  what  motive  inspired  it , 
Maria  was  ambitious  to  make  her  circumstances  appear  in 
the  best  possible  light  to  one  she  had  formerly  known. 
There  was  no  harm,  and  there  might  be  much  good  in  that. 
Just  at  dusk  I  was  called  to  a  plentiful  supper,  at  which  she 
presided,  while  tbe  other  wives  of  her  husband  remained  in 
the  kitchen. 

I  subsequently  discovered  that  Brother  Underwood  was 
not  considered  strictly  orthodox.  He  belonged  to  the 
Mormon  church,  and  practised  polygamy,  yet  he  was  not  so 
liberal  with  his  money  as  the  elders  desired,  and  had  on 
several  occasions  boldly  refused  to  pay  his  assessment  of 
tithes.  He  possessed,  however,  and  in  an  eminent  degree, 
one  quality  which  Mormon  husbands  especially  need, 
and  which  at  all  times  and  seasons  they  are  required  to 
exercise.  This  was  good  nature,  and  that  easy  sort  of  dis- 


20  THE    HUSBA.ND    IN    UTAH. 

position,  which  rests  satisfied  with  getting  along  "  som 
how."     If  things  went  wronpr, "oh  well,  never  mind."     1 
the  meals  were  not  prepared  by  the  right  time,  or  not  at  all 
it  made  little  difference  to  him.     He  would  roast  a  potato, 
or  munch  a  crust,  and  expected  to  live  just  as  long  as  though 
everything  went  on  in  the  smoothest  manner. 

His  wives  generally  partook  of  the  same  qualities.  They 
were  the  laziest  set  it  was  ever  my  fortune  to  behold,  and 
the  five  did  not  perform  on  an  average  the  ordinary  work'of 
one  good  housewife  in  the  Eastern  States.  Yet  strange  as 
it  may  appear,  Underwood  had  married  them  solely  with  the 
view  to  their  labor.  He  wished  to  keep  a  hotel  or  boarding- 
house  without  the  extra  expense  of  servants.  When 
Maria's  health  failed,  and  she  could  not  perform  the  duties 
devolving  on  her,  instead  of  hiring  a  girl  he  married  another 
wife.  She  refused  to  work,  and  he  resorted  again  to  the 
same  alternative  with  no  better  success.  Thus  one  after 
another  had  been  added  to  his  family  with  no  advantage  to 
him.  Fortunately  they  bore  few  children,  or  his  circum- 
stances would  have  been  still  more  embarrassed.  These 
women  divided  their  tune  pretty  equally  between  visiting, 
sleeping,  and  going  to  church  ;  one  attending  to  the  house- 
hold affairs  this  day,  and  another  the  next ;  while  such  general 
concerns  as  washing  and  scrubbing  were  utterly  neglected. 
Though  these  women  were  actually  too  indolent  to  quarrel, 
they  had  no  domestic  feeling,  no  interest  in  common  with  their 
husband  to  preserve  order,  and  promote  the  family  welfare. 
In  this  apathy  and  indifference  they  strongly  resemble  the 


SEARCHING   FOE   INFORMATION.  29 

servants,  for  whom  they  were  designed  to  be  a  substitute. 
These  things  were  obvious  enough  to  a  stranger ;  I  deter- 
mined to  ascertain  whether  or  not  Brother  Underwood 
regarded  them  in  the  same  light.  I  felt  little  delicacy  in 
broaching  the  subject,  as  the  Mormon,  unlike  the  Mussul- 
man, manifests  little  sensitiveness  in  regard  to  his  wives. 
They  will  sit  for  hours  relating  their  domestic  experiences, 
vexations,  and  the  motives  that  caused  them  to  desire  so 
intimate  a  connection  with  so  many  women.  Of  course  there 
will  be  different  views,  but  in  many  cases  it  is  my  candid 
opinion  that  the  husband  is  more  to  be  pitied  than  his  wives. 
One  day,  when  our  acquaintance  had  ripened  into  familiarity, 
I  inquired  of  Brother  Underwood  if  he  considered  polygamy 
conducive  to  the  happiness  of  those  husbands  who  practised 
it. 

He  frankly  replied,  "  Generally  speaking,  I  do  not.  One 
thing  is  certain,  it  has  been  my  ruin  in  a  pecuniary  view — 
lot  that  exactly  either,  but  it  has  caused  a  stagnation  in 
my  affairs  that  to  a  person  of  different  temperament  would 
have  occasioned  madness  or  suioide.  Fortunately  I  take 
things  easy,  and  never  suffer  myself  to  be  worried,  come 
what  may." 

No  one,  I  believe  who  had  seen  his  broad,  smiling,  good- 
natured  coTintenance  would  have  disputed  this. 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  you  might  do  a  good  business  at 
hotel  keeping  under  other  circumstances,"  I  remarked. 

"No  one  can  be  more  certain  of  that  than  I  am,"  he 
answered,  broadly  smiling  ;  "  yet  I  have  given  up  all  hopes 


30  THE   HUSBAND   DT  UTAH. 

of  that ;  in  fact  I  care  no  longer  about  it.  One  or  two 
boarders  at  a  time  is  quite  enough.  I  wish  to  retain  what 
little  property  I  have  succeeded  in  getting  ;  I  have  no  expec- 
tation of  ever  obtaining  more." 

"  Candidly  and  truly,  do  not  you,  who  have  tried  both, 
consider  the  one-wife  system  to  be  the  best  pecuniarily,  as 
well  as  morally  and  socially  ?" 

"  Not  a  doubt  of  it,"  he  replied  ;  "  but  uneasiness  seems 
characteristic  of  human  nature.  Few  men,  I  believe, 
are  entirely  satisfied  with  one  wife.  They  find  deficiencies 
in-  her  which  they  seek  to  remedy,  where  polygamy  is  allow- 
ed, by  taking  another,  and  as  no  woman  is  ever  perfect, 
the'  number  from  this  same  motive  may  be  indefinitely 
increased." 

"  And  no  one  knows  exactly  what  a  thing  is  until  he  has 
tried  it,"  I  replied. 

"  Exactly  so." 

"  Do  you  not  suppose  that  many  who  have  tried  polygamy 
would  gladly  go  back  to  the  one-wife  system,  could  they 
reasonably  do  so  ?" 

"  I  know  it ;  but  a  marriage  once  consummated  is  not  to 
be  readily  abandoned.  Justice  to  the  woman  requires  its 
permanency." 

"  And  you  find  no  difficulty  in  procuring  second,  third,  or 
even  the  seventh  or  eighth  wife." 

"  None  whatever,  so  far  as  I  am  aware.  It  is  even  said, 
that  the  more  wives  a  man  has,  the  more  he  may  have, 
especially  in  those  families  where  labor  is  required  of  the 


LARGE   FAMILIES   THE   SOURCE   OF   DISQUIETUDE.      31 

female  members.  I  have  been  told  that  many  girls  make  it 
a  condition  in  their  courtship  that  their  future  husbands 
shall  marry  at  least  two  other  wives,  in  order  that  the  cares 
and  burdens  of  household  duties,  with  the  annoyance  of 
children,  may  be  lessened  by  being  divided." 

"  A  practical  view,  certainly." 

"  And  one  which  serves  admirably  to  banish  whatever 
objections  a  female  might  reasonably  have  to  married  life. 
Most  women  strongly  object  to  being  mothers  to  large 
families,  and  if  such  is  the  case  it  is  decidedly  against  their 
wishes  and  wills.  The  first  child  is  welcomed,  the  second 
tolerated,  the  prospect  of  a  third  occasions  tears  and  re- 
proaches, and  that  of  the  fourth  is  attended  with  exhibitions 
of  temper,  ebullitions  of  spleen,  fits  of  melancholy,  and  not 
unfrequently  with  actual  dislike  or  hatred  of  the  husband. 
Whatever  unhappiness  the  want  of  children  may  occasion 
in  some  families  and  under  certain  circumstances,  it  cannot 
be  denied  by  any  one  even  tolerably  acquainted  with  the 
facts  of  the  case,  that  too  many  of  them  is  a  source  of  greater 
disquietude  and  discontent  to  those  that  give  them  birth, 
and  on  whom  during  infancy  and  childhood  the  care  of  them 
necessarily  devolves." 

"  Likely  enough  ;  yet  what  bearing  has  this  on  the  system 
of  polygamy  ?" 

"  Much,  very  much.  Where  polygamy  is  indulged,  few 
women  ever  give  birth  to  more  than  two  or  three  children 
apiece.  These  are  soon  out  of  the  way,  and  their  mothers 
at  liberty  ;  while  at  the  same  time  the  burdens  of  the  hus- 


6%  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

band  are  increased,  and  his  application  to  labor  or  business 
is  even  more  imperatively  required." 

"  But  Maria  was  doubtless  averse  to  your  second  mar- 
riage ?" 

Without  noticing  my  last  remark,  he  continued  :  "I 
could  point  you  to  many  women  in  Utah  who  are  strong 
advocates  of  polygamy,  though  their  husbands  are  doubtful 
of  its  utility,  and  hesitate  about  practising  it." 

I  became  subsequently  convinced  that  there  was  much 
truth  in  his  statement,  and  was  forcibly  reminded  of  Lady 
Mary  Wortley  Montague's  remarks,  where  she  expresses  her 
belief  that  the  ladies  in  the  Turkish  harems  lead  the  easiest 
and  happiest  lives  hi  the  world,  and  also  of  what  a  young 
lady  of  good  sense  and  respectable  position  in  society  once 
said  in  my  hearing,  "  that  she  would  rather  be  the  fiftieth 
wife  of  a  rich  man  who  could  support  her  without  the  neces- 
sity of  labor,  or  the  inthrallment  of  family  affairs,  than  the 
only  wife  of  one  who  would  expect  her  to  perform  all  sorts 
of  menial  labors,  besides  giving  birth  to  and  rearing  a  dozen 
children."  (a.) 


GLANCES  AND  GLIMPSES.  33 


CHAPTER  II. 

GLANCES   AND    GLIMPSES — COSTUME — SCENES    IN   THE    STREETS, 

ETC. 

~TT7"HILE  walking  the  streets  of  Zion  my  thoughts  con- 
VV  stantly  referred  to  the  great  changes  that  a  few  short 
years  had  sufficed  to  accomplish.  Land  rescued  from 
savages  and  wild  beasts  ^  redeemed  from  the  wild  ;  elegant 
structures  built ;  a  populous  city,  rich  in  the  various  ele- 
ments of  prosperity,  and  the  resort  of  thousands  of  emigrants 
from  all  parts  of  the  world,  is  a  great  work  to  be  performed 
in  half  a  score  of  years,  more  especially  when  its  isolated  con- 
dition, and  the  absence  of  all  water  communication  with  the 
ocean  is  considered.  One  thing  is  certain  ;  the  Mormons, 
whatever  may  be  the  faults  of  their  religious  or  social  sys- 
tem, are  not  deficient  in  the  energy  and  perseverance  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon  race.  Yet  not  a  tithe  of  the  country  they 
nominally  occupy  is  cleared  or  inhabited.  Little  colonies 
of  Mormons  are  settled  here  and  there,  at  fifty,  forty  or 
twenty  miles  from  the  main  settlement,  to  which,  for  various 
reasons  they  pay  a  semi-annual  visit  much  in  the  same  man- 

2* 


34  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH.  * 

ner  as  the  ancient  Jews  went  up  to  Jerusalem.  The  appear- 
ance of  these  people,  when  seen  in  the  streets,  is  much  infe- 
rior to  that  of  the  natives  of  Zion,  and  you  soon  learn  to 
distinguish  them.  They  are  coarse  and  rude  in  manner, 
impudent,  staring  and  curious,  miserably  dressed  in  a  cos- 
tume half-way  between  that  of  the  Indian  and  white  man. 
You  are  surprised  at  the  unmistakable  marks  of  Indian 
descent  that  many  of  the  younger  ones  exhibit.  The 
straight,  well-proportioned  figure,  long  coarse  hair,  high 
cheek  bones,  and  wary  expression  of  eye  and  countenance 
betray  to  the  most  casual  observer  the  mixture  of  races. 

One  thing  that  strikes  you  as  remarkable,  is  the  assem- 
blage of  different  nations  to  be  seen  in  the  streets.  Gibral- 
ter  itself  can  scarcely  be  more  favored  in  this  respect. 
Every  nation  in  Europe,  and  ever^ State  in  the  Union  has 
representatives  here.  The  tall  Norwegian,  fresh  from  his 
native  pine  forests  ;  the  Dane,  probably  a  descendant  of 
some  sea-king  of  old  ;  the  blue-eyed  German,  meet,  and 
probably  salute  you  in  a  language  whose  strange  unintelli- 
gible gibberish  has  no  more  meaning  to  your  ears  than  the 
gabble  of  so  many  geese.  These  generally  retain  their 
national  costume  for  a  time,  but  sooner  or  later  adopt  that 
of  the  Mormons,  which  varies  little  from  the  usual  style  of 
English  dress.  Brigham  Young,  the  patriarch,  attempted 
to  lead  the  fashions,  and  set  out  with  a  slouched  yellow  hat, 
much  too  large  even  for  his  large  head,  green  frock  coat, 
and  pants  large  in  size  and  loose  in  fit,  white  socks,  and 
slippers.  He  was  followed  by  some  of  the  elders,  though 


COSTUMES.  35 

the  young  men  and  dandies  were  so  intolerably  wicked  as  to 
prefer  imitating  the  people  of  the  world. 

Zion,  like  other  cities,  has  its  fashionable  streets.  In 
these  some  are  dressed  with  foppish  extravagance,  and  a 
great  many  in  clothes  of  expensive  material.  You  are 
tempted  to  wonder  how  so  much  finery  ever  found  its  way 
to  such  an  out-of-the-way  place. 

Of  course,  the  ladies  in  personal  adornment  must  keep  up 
with  their  husbands  and  lovers.  The  wives  and  daughters 
of  the  rich  dress  expensively,  with  good  taste  and  effect. 
Many  of  them  are  attractive  in  appearance,  and  some  would 
produce  a  decided  sensation  in  any  European  drawing-room. 
These  were  objects  of  especial  attention  to  the  United  States 
officers  and  soldiers,  which  gave  great  umbrage  to  the 
Mormons. 

Many  of  the  poorer  class  of  women  work  in  the  fields. 
These  adopted  a  costume  something  like  the  Bloomer,  con- 
sisting of  wide  pants,  gathered  with  a  band  around  the 
ankle,  short  skirts,  and  a  broad-brimmed  straw  hat  of  home 
manufacture,  yet  all  the  better  for  that.  They  were  adorned 
with  knots  of  ribbon,  and  being  rather  jauntily  worn  on  one 
side,  had  altogether  a  pleasant  effect. 

The  arrival  of  an  emigrant  train  always  occasioned  a 
great  amount  of  bustle  and  excitement,  and  such  arrivals 
were  of  frequent  occurrence.  Some  were  bound  to  Oregon, 
others  to  California,  but  by  far  the  greater  number  were 
foreign  Mormons,  who  came  to  join  their  brethren  in  the 
promised  land.  These  are  hospitably  entertained,  and  pro- 


36  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

vided  with  homes  among  the  wealthy  saints,  until  they  can 
procure  some  of  their  own.  Even  after  that,  they  are  sup- 
plied with  cattle,  domestic  utensils,  food,  clothing,  and  other 
necessaries  at  a  trifling  cost,  until  they  are  enabled  to  get  a 
"start."  This  seems  to  me  a  praiseworthy  and  humane 
policy.  "  Thou  shalt  not  oppress  the  stranger,  for  ye  were 
strangers  in  the  land  of  Egypt,"  said  the  great  Jewish  Law- 
giver ;  a  maxim  too  often  forgotten  by  our  own  people. 
These  emigrants  are  a  source  of  great  wealth  to  the  Mor- 
mon Church,  besides  being  an  important  addition  to  their 
numbers.  Many  of  them  bring  large  sums  in  gold  and  sil- 
ver ;  others  have  strong  hands  and  willing  hearts  to  work, 
and  thereby  increase  the  material  wealth  of  the  country  ; 
and  all  are  blindly  attached  to  their  novel  faith  and  creed. 

Such  emigrants  are  precisely  the  kind  of  people  required 
to  bring  out  the  resources  of  a  State.  Few  "  gentlemen  *' 
among  them,  and  no  "  ladies  ;"  but  all  true-hearted  men  and 
women,  inured  to  toil  and  hardship,  with  brawny  shoulders, 
firm  step,  and  coarse  hands.  Deficient  in  the  exterior  graces 
of  polite  education,  they  generally  exhibit  a  strong  native 
sense  of  right,  and  what  is  due  from  man  to  man.  They 
soon  found  employment,  and  in  most  cases,  were  busy  and 
satisfied,  (b.)  The  exceptions  were  those  of  old  people,  who 
had  left  their  native  country  for  the  sake  of  ending  their 
days  in  the  society  of  their  children,  and  who  seemed  to 
sadly  miss  the  old  familiar  accociations  of  former  years.  I 
was  always  fond  of  the  society  of  aged  people,  and  some  of 
these  interested  me  very  much,  though  I  could  neither  speak 


AN   INTERESTING  AGED   COUPLE.  87 

nor  understand  a  connected  sentence  in  their  language,  I 
was  deeply  struck  with  the  appearance  of  two  old  Norwe- 
gians— husband  and  wife,  who  lived  with  their  son  and  his 
family,  in  a  small  adobe  house,  on  one  of  the  principal  streets. 
They  had  all  the  appearance  of  great  age — long  white 
locks,  and  bent  forms,  with  that  indescribable  something  in 
manner  and  countenance,  which  even  among  the  rudest  peo- 
%ple  commands  veneration.  They  seemed  inseparable — that 
old  man  and  his  equally  ancient  wife.  When  the  air  was 
damp  or  chill,  you  could  see  them  sitting  by  the  window.  In 
warm  sunshiny  weather  they  often  came  out  on  the  little 
porch,  but  it  was  easy  enough  to  be  perceived  that  the  old 
people  were  not  happy.  There  was  an  ah-  of  loneliness 
about  them.  They  were  home-sick — how  could  it  be  other- 
wise ?  They  were  too  old  to  form  new  friendships,  or  seek 
new  pleasures.  They  are  tired  of  isolation  from  all  the 
habits  to  which  they  have  been  accustomed  through  a  long 
and  undoubtedly  happy  life,  besides  being  disgusted  with 
the  condition  of  the  things  they  find  around  them.  The 
wife  pines  for  her  old  neighbors,  her  little  village  church, 
the  voice  of  her  aged  pastor,  and  the  mounds  in  the  tidy 
grave-yard,  where  her  ancestors  sleep.  I  missed  them  one 
day  from  the  window,  and  still  the  next  they  were  invisible. 
Then  rumors  came  that  the  old  Norwegian  woman  had 
fallen  down  in  a  fit.  Another  quickly  followed,  that  she 
was  dead,  and  I  felt  a  certain  presentiment  that  her  com 
panion  could  not  long  survive.  I  attended  the  funeral, 
which  was  conducted  after  the  manner  usual  in  Norway 


38  THE  HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

The  coffin  was  borne  on  the  shoulders  of  six  stout  foreign- 
ers, and  followed  to  the  place  of  burial  by  a  large  company 
of  foreign  men  and  women.  First,  and  conspicuous  among 
them,  was  the  aged  husband  of  the  deceased,  bending 
beneath  the  weight  of  unutterable  sorrow,  and  looking  older 
by  several  years,  than  when  I  had  last  beheld  him.  He 
seemed  utterly  decrepid  and  helpless,  and  was  obliged  to 
lean  heavily  for  support  on  the  arm  of  his  son.  His  frame* 
was  that  of  a  giant,  and  he  must  have  been  in  his  best  days 
of  wonderful  strength,  though .  now  he  shook  and  shivered 
as  if  under  the  influence  of  strong  convulsions. 

The  procession  passed  out  into  a  little  open  plain,  bounded 
by  large  rocks,  and  extremely  desolate  in  appearance.  It 
halted  by  an  open  grave,  over  which  a  solitary  cottonwood 
waved  its  huge  branches.  After  the  usual  preliminaries,  the 
coffin  was  lowered  down,  when  the  old  man  tottered  to  the 
head  of  the  grave,  and  sat  down,  with  one  long,  earnest, 
straining  look  into  its  gloomy  recesses.  Then  the  son,  tak- 
ing his  station  at  the  foot,  opened  a  small  book,  and  read 
from  it  in  his  native  tongue,  what  I  supposed  to  be  the 
funeral  service  of  the  Norwegian  church,  during  which  the 
whole  assemblage  reverently  uncovered  their  heads.  Many 
of  these  were  evidently  illiterate,  and  somewhat  boorish  in 
manner,  but  all  seemed  deeply  influenced  by  unaffected  feel- 
ing. Several  of  the  women  sobbed  and  wept  bitterly,  and  the 
reader  himself  paused  at  intervals,  apparently  overcome  by 
the  depth  of  his  emotions. 

This  exercise  was  succeeded  by  a  few  moments  of  silence, 


A.   BURIAL.  39 

when  another  person  stepped  from  the  crowd,  and  began  a 
short  address,  perhaps  eulogistic  of  the  virtues  of  the 
deceased, 'or  more  probably  a  strain  of  exhortation  to- the 
living.  His  manner  was  earnest,  and  the  tone  of  his  voice 
solemn  and  impressive.  He  finished,  when  a  few  handsful 
of  earth  were  thrown  into  the  grave,  when  those  who  had 
acted  as  bearers  came  immediately  forward,  and  taking 
some  shovels  proceeded  to  fill  the  grave.  While  this  was 
transpiring,  the  son  took  his  former  place,  and  some  one  in 
the  assembly  raised  a  hymn,  with  a  long,  slow,  mournful  air. 
The  strain  was  immediately  taken  up  by  many  voices,  while 
the  echoes  rolled  and  died  away  in  musical  cadence  among 
the  hills.  I  was  deeply  affected,  though  unable  to  under- 
stand a  syllable. 

Meantime,  a  man  had  gone  into  the  ravine  neac  by, 
whence  he  returned  with  two  small  branches  with  green 
leaves,  that  he  had  broken  off  a  chenopodiaceous  shrub, 
native  to  the  place.  He  approached  with  the  apparent 
intention  of  erecting  them  at  the  head  of  the  grave,  when 
the  old  husband,  who  had  sat  immovable,  his  face  buried  in 
his  hands,  made  a  hasty  gesture  of  dissent,  and  pointed  to  a 
dwarf  pine  growing  on  a  small  mound  at  a  little  distance. 
The  man  underbtood  his  mistake,  and  throwing  down  the 
shrubs,  proceeded  to  gather  the  pine  boughs,  with  their 
green  tufts  of  long  spiral  leaves  and  pointed  cones.  These 
were  placed  upright  at  either  extremity  of  the  grave.  A 
few  sentences  of  prayer  were  then  repeated  in  a  low  voice  ; 
the  old  man,  assisted  by  his  son,  rose  to  his  feet,  and  all  dis 


40  THE  HUSBAND   IN  UTAH. 

persed.  For  a  day  or  two  I  thought  much  of  the  old  Nor- 
wegian, and  the  probable  effect  which  the  decease  of  his 
wife  would  have  on  him.  Then  I  took  a  short  trip  to  a 
neighboring  settlement,  where  I  remained  nearly  a  week. 
I  purchased  a  horse,  and  returned  by  a  bridle-path,  leading 
near  the  old  woman's  place  of  burial.  Suddenly  my  horse 
pricked  up  his  ears,  as  if  listening  intently,  and  in  another 
moment  the  loud  echoes  of  a  martial  strain  reverberated 
through  the  woods.  Riding  on,  I  soon  discovered  that 
another  funeral  was  proceeding.  The  singers  were  standing 
around  a  new-made  grave,  chanting  with  most  impressive 
utterance  and  gestures,  the  national  air  of  Norway,  and 
simultaneously  bursting  into  a  chorus,  of  which  the  burden, 
prolonged  in  a  loud,  full-toned,  enthusiastic  aspiration  was, 
"  Gamle  Norge."  I  reined  in  my  horse  till  the  pine  branches 
were  erected,  when  the  company  peaceably  dispersed,  and 
all  that  remained  to  earth  of  the  old  man,  was  left  sleeping 
quietly  by  his  wife.  Upon  inquiry,  I  found  that  he  had 
been  a  patriot  and  a  warrior,  and  that  his  name  was 
honorably  mentioned  in  his  native  land.(c.) 

Many  emigrant  trains  on  their  way  to  California  or  Ore- 
gon stop  at  the  Mormon  city  to  obtain  rest  and  refreshment. 
This  is  obviously  a  great  advantage  to  the  country,  and  con- 
tributes largely  to  its  wealth,  by  furnishing  a  market  for  all 
kinds  of  produce.  These  trains  are  not  the  least  remarka- 
ble feature  of  the  western  world.  They  come  from  all 
quarters — Ohio,  Indiana,  Wisconsin,  and  Missouri,  and  such 
a  combination  of  strange  characters  rarely  and  perhaps 


AMEKICAN   RESIDENTS.  41 

never  meet  under  other,  circumstances.  Each  family  is 
generally  furnished  with  a  large  stout  wagon  drawn  by 
mules  or  oxen,  in  almost  fabulous  numbers,  and  capable  of 
accommodating  quite  a  number  of  people.  Hoops,  bent  to 
form  a  half-circle,  with  a  coarse  white  cloth  stretched  over 
them,  make  a  passable  cover.  These  are  attended  by  men 
on  horseback,  with  hunters  and  half-breeds  on  foot.  Many 
a  time  emigrant  parties  double  in  number  while  journeying 
across  the  plains.  The  Americans,  or  those  who  had  resided 
for  several  years  hi  the  States,  were  usually  well-dressed, 
though  mostly  rough  and  coarse,  and  generally  fond  of 
spirituous  liquors.  The  men  were  not  sociable,  except  when 
the  prices  and  qualities  of  land,  or  the  abundance  of  gold  in 
their  prospective  home,  was  the  subject  of  discussion.  This, 
however,  I  attributed  to  a  sort  of  jealous  fear  of  the  Mor- 
mons, whom  they  had  learned  to  regard  as  enemies,  and 
whose  movements  they  incessantly  watched.  They  took 
care  to  show  the  handles  of  concealed  weapons,  and  man- 
aged fire-arms  with  dexterity,  though  carefully  avoiding  all 
altercations  and  disputes.  One  thing  was  particularly 
observable  in  many  of  them — a  straining  after  effect,  and 
an  attempt  to  make  themselves  appear  more  wealthy  and 
intelligent  than  they  really  were.  Their  language  was 
generally  ungrammatical,  idiomatic,  and  extravagant  ;  ex- 
cessively profane,  and  interlarded  with  obsolete  phrases,  and 
nicknames  applied  almost  indiscriminately.  Yet  one  of 
these  men,  who  had  acquired  some  little  property,  and  felt 


42  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

very  large  in  consequence,  though  he  could  neither  read 
writing  nor  write  his  name,  had  the  impudence  (what  else 
can  we  call  it  ?)  to  cause  himself  to  be  nominated  as  candi- 
date for  the  legislature  of  his  native  State,  was  supported 
by  an  independent  ticket,  and  obtained  the  office,  after 
which  he  aspired  to  be  governor.  Failing  in  thL,  he  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  going  West,  where  his  talents  would  be 
better  appreciated.  Hence  he  had  gone  rov-ing  about, 
always  dissatisfied  because  the  people  refused  to  trust 
him  with  some  high  office.  He  was  evidently  a  singu- 
lar man,  uniting  in  himself  the  confidence  and  self-possession 
of  the  well-bred  gentleman,  with  the  coarseness  and  low 
tastes  of  the  uncivilized  boor.  He  would  exhibit  in  one 
day  the  most  opposite  qualities.  Frankness  and  reserve, 
recklessness  and  self-control,  penuriousness  and  prodigality. 
I  was  told  of  one  act  which  he  originated  and  carried 
through  the  legislature,  and  which  empowered  each  of  the 
members  to  purchase  at  the  public  expense  a  leather  trunk, 
dressing  case,  and  gold  pencil  of  the  value  of  ten  dollars. 
Could  anything  show  the  man  in  a  clearer  light  ?  *  It 
was  amusing  to  witness  the  sharp  eyes  with  which  these 
men  regarded  the  movements  of  their  women  when  the 
Mormons  were  about. 

There  is  a  camping-ground  on  one  side  of  the  city,  where 
such  travellers  as  choose  can  pitch  their  tents  and  reside 
with  comfort  during  their  stay  at  Mormondom,  which  is 
always  prolonged  to  a  month,  and  sometimes  much  longer. 


A   BEAUTIFUL   GIRL.  4:3 

I  used  often  to  visit  these  companies,  and  when  they  had 
satisfied  themselves  that  I  was  not  a  spy,  or  Mormon  emis- 
sary, I  was  uniformly  well  received. 

In  one  of  the  trains  en  route  for  California  was  a  beautiful 
girl,  of  most  bewitching  manners,  slightly  addicted  to 
coquetry  and  remarkably  fond  of  society.  Her  mother  was 
dead,  and  she  had  inherited  from  her  a  small  property,  which 
she  lavishly,  expended  in  dress  and  ornaments.  Her  father, 
a  man  of  naturally  kind  and  humane  disposition,  with  true 
parental  feeling  attempted  to  restrain  the  faults  of  his  child. 
During  their  journey  she  had  little  opportunity  to  exercise 
her  levity  of  disposition,  but  once  encamped  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  a  populous  town,  and  that  town  a  military 
post,  she  determined  by  present  indulgence  to  make  amends 
for  past  restraint.  Her  beauty  soon  became  the  general  topic 
of  conversation,  at  least  among  a  certain  class,  and  her 
little  coquettish  arts  delighted  and  excited  the  young  soldiers 
in  no  small  degree.  Several  of  the  younger  Mormons  seem- 
also  struck  with  her  fascinations.  Like  most  other  women, 
however,  she  preferred  a  military  uniform,  and  when  a  young 
lieutenant  became  her  constant  attendant  her  happiness 
seemed  complete.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Scott,  the  father,  forbade 
her  lovers  approaching  his  tent,  and  reprimanded  her  severely 
for  encouraging  them.  A  scene  ensued.  The  father  was 
violent,  the  daughter  impetuous.  He  threatened  her  with 
punishment ;  she  defied  his  power.  That  night  she 
fled. 

I  had  grown  quite  intimate  with  Mr.  Scott,  during  his 


44  THE  HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

stay  at  the  city.  Friendship  among  travellers  is  of  rapid 
growth.  Utterly  ignorant  of  what  had  occurred,  I  went 
the  next  day  to  his  tent,  and  found  him  in  a  state  bordering 
on  distraction.  He  knew  her  recklessness  and  impetuosity, 
and  doubted  not  that  she  had  rushed  headlong  into  the  most 
deplorable  evils. 

"  My  daughter  has  gone,  sir,  gone,"  he  said,  bringing 
down  his  fist  with  great  emphasis  on  the  table  ;  "  and  I 
drove  her  away,  yes  sir,  drove  her  away,  my  beautiful 
Louisa,  could  you  believe  it,  sir  ?" 

"  I  certainly  should  not,  except  for  your  own  words,"  I 
replied  ;  "  but  what  occasioned  it  ?" 

"  Those  cursed  Mormons,  sir,  those  cursed  Mormons  were 
all  the  time  running  after  her.  I  forbade  their  coming,  and 
talked  rather  savagely  to  her — too  much  so,  sir  ;  a  father 
should  never  indulge  his  passions  towards  his  children^ 
never  sir — that  caused  my  daughter  to  run  away.'" 

"  Perhaps  she  will  come  back." 

"  Never,  sir  ;  she's  too  much  grit  for  that.  She'll  never 
come  back  unless  she's  brought  back,  sir,  brought  back  by 
main  force.  The  Mormons " 

"  Excuse  me  sir,"  I  said,  interrupting  him.  "  But  I  doubt 
that  the  Mormons  had  any  hand  in  this  reprehensible  con- 
duct of  your  daughter.  It  is  much  more  probable  that 
some  one  of  these  young  officers  has  deluded  her." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?"  he  inquired  meditatively. 

"  I  certainly  do." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  your  reasons." 


A  VARIETY  OF   OPINIONS.  45 

"I  believe  that  Miss  Scott  was  rather  partial  to  the 
military." 

"  And  I  know  she  was,"  interposed  the  stepmother,  who 
had  been  a  listener  to  our  conversation,  and  who  manifested 
little  disturbance  at  her  daughter's  flight. 

I  was  sincere  in  this  belief,  and  circumstances,  as  I  con- 
ceived, warranted  the  full  expression  of  them,  not  only 
that  the  ends  of  justice  might  be  met,  but  to  prevent  a 
collision  between  the  Mormons  and  the  exasperated  travel- 
lers, which  must  result  fatally  to  the  latter. 

"  What  shall  I  do,  sir,  what  can  I  do  ?"  he  inquired. 
"  The  camp  will  be  moving  in  a  day  or  two — and  to  leave 
my  daughter,  sir,  I  cannot  think  of  such  thing." 

Not  knowing  what  better  to  say,  I  simply  remarked, 

"I  presume  not." 

"  If  she  prefers  a  rascally  soldier  to  yourself,  I  should  say, 
let  her  go,"  observed  the  step-mother. 

Her  husband  silenced  her  with  a  look. 

Others  of  the  emigrant  party  came  in,  and  expressed 
great  exasperation.  Some  persisted  that  the  Mormons  had 
kidnapped  or  abducted  the  girl,  and  proposed  all  sorts  of 
violent  measures  to  effect  her  rescue.  Others  contended, 
with  much  more  show  of  reason,  that  she  had  voluntarily 
sought  the  protection  of  a  lover. 

"  I've  studied  woman  nature  in  my  life,"  said  one  old 
man,  "  and  I  saw  that  in  her  eye  which  told  me  what  she 
was  up  to.  Lord  1  how  they  danced  and  sparkled  at  the 


46  THE  HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

sight  of  a  pair  of  epaulettes  1  It's  the  epaulettes  that  did 
the  business."  ^ 

"  Shouldn't  wonder." 

"  She'll  repent  it,"  said  a  woman,  who  stood  at  the  door 
of  the  tent,  looking  in.  "Well,  it's  just  what  I  expected. 
These  beauties  ;  I  never  could  bear  'em,  not  one  in  ten  is 
what  she  should  be." 

More  than  one  of  the  men  looked  at  the  speaker,  who 
was  excessively  homely,  with  a  broad  smile. 

In  a  few  days  the  encampment  broke  up,  and  the  travellers 
moved  on,  leaving  the  young  lady  behind  them.  Mr.  Scott 
requested  me  to  look  for  his  daughter,  and  if  I  obtained 
intelligence  of  her  to  write  and  let  him  know.  This  I  pro- 
mised to  do. 

I  am  told  that  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  beautiful 
young  girls  to  be  abducted  from  emigrant  trains,  or  per- 
suaded to  abandon  their  parents  for  the  sake  of  a  Mormon 
husband. 

I  was  particularly  interested  in  one  class  of  men,  who 
occasionally  visit  the  Mormon  city,  and  who,  generally 
speaking,  are  honest,  brave,  and  liberal  ;  I  allude  to  the 
free  trappers.  During  my  sojourn  in  this  country  I  was 
often  thrown  in  contact  with  them,  and  can  safely  endorse 
all  that  has  ever  been  said  in  their  favor,  though  I  have 
strong  doubts  of  the  correctness  of  many  fabulous  reports  of 
the  crime  and  violence  attributed  to  them.  True,  they 
want  polish  and  grace  ;  many  of  them  are  uneducated  ;  all 
are  more  or  less  deficient  in  the  usual  forms  of  civilized  life, 


CHARACTERISTICS    OF   THE   FREE   TRAPPERS.  47 

buv  for  generous  feelings  and  the  combination  of  noble 
qualities,  which  make  a  high-minded  man,  they  are  rarely 
to  be  equalled  and  never  excelled. 

Generosity  with  them  is  almost  a  fault.  Their  purses, 
their  pleasures,  and  their  hearts  are  ever  open  to  the  weak, 
the  stranger,  or  the  needy.  They  have  little  of  the  sordid 
love  of  gold  ;  still  less  appreciation  of  caste  or  condition. 
Confide  in  them,  and  no  friend  can  be  more  true. 


4:8  THE  HUSBAND   IN  UTAH. 


CHAPTER  III. 

RURAL   SCENERY — RURAL  LIFE — JUDGE  WHITE — HIS   OPINION  OF 
POLYGAMY — THE   BRIGHT   SIDE   OP  THAT   INSTITUTION. 

SOME  of  the  Mormons  are  wealthy,  and  not  a  few  have 
fine  farms  at  some  distance  from  the  city,  besides  town- 
houses  of  considerable  pretensions  to  architectural  elegance. 
Of  course  they  would  suffer  in  comparison  with  the  buildings 
of  New  York,  or  other  eastern  cities,  though  in  this  place 
they  really  look  well.  Usually  these  men  have  several  wives 
with  families.  The  first  wife,  with  two  or  three  others, 
resides  on  the  farm  probably,  while  the  others  are  supported 
in  the  city,  or  it  may  be  the  reverse.  The  husband  revolves 
between  these  two  establishments ;  blessing  one  place  with 
his  presence  for  perhaps  a  month,  and  then  staying  an  equal 
length  of  time  at  the  other.  I  understand  that  these 
husbands  are  greatly  petted  ;  each  wife  vieing  with  the 
other  to  best  entertain  her  lord.  As  the  dispositions  of 
women  are  various,  in  certain  instances  this  may  be  the 
case  ;  in  others  it  is  not. 
It  was  a  fine,  warm,  bright  morning  when  I  started  on  a 


A.  DISAGREEABLE  PARTY.  49 

stroll  with  my  fishing-rod  up  City  Greek.  This  stream  is 
rapid  and  beautiful.  It  runs  from  a  wild  gorge  on  the  north 
side*  of  the  city,  along  the  banks  of  the  principal  canal, 
conducting  the  water  for  distribution  into  one  part  of  the 
town.  The  stream  was  full  of  trout,  which,  however,  declin- 
ed to  bite,  and  I  resolved  to  visit  the  farm  of  Judge  White, 
which  I  knew  could  not  be  far  off.  Certain  business  connec- 
tions had  led  me  to  form  an  acquaintance  with  this  man, 
who  was  considered  a  pattern  saint,  and  who,  at  sundry 
times,  had  pressed  me  to  share  his  hospitality.  Striking 
into  a  narrow  path  I  walked  rapidly  along  the  edge  of  the 
plateau  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  for  about  two  miles, 
when  I  came  suddenly  on  a  little  mud  shanty  of  indescribable 
appearance.  It  seemed  to  swarm  with  children.  A  parcel 
were  playing  at  the  door  when  I  approached.  Seeing  me, 
there  was  a  hurtied  ejaculation,  and  they  ran  in  quickly  to 
communicate  the  news.  Three  men  immediately  came  out, 
and  double  that  quantity  of  women  showed  their  faces  at  the 
door,  while  the  lesser  ones  behind  were  pushing  and  crowd- 
ing to  obtain  a  glimpse.  My  approach  had  produced  a 
sensation  more  than  I  considered  safe  or  agreeable.  Two  of 
the  men  were  half  breeds  ;  the  other  the  most  villainous 
looking  white  fellow  it  was  ever  my  misfortune  to  behold. 
Snaky  glittering  eyes,  shaggy  brows,  and  sensual  mouth, 
with  an  expression  of  countenance  at  once  malicious,  cunning, 
and  devilish.  The  women  were  suitable  matches  for  such  men, 
nearly  naked  and  undeseribably  filthy.  I  approached  them 
frankly.  The  white  man  held  out  his  hand.  Not  wishing 

3 


50  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

to  encounter  the  grasp  of  such  a  man,  I  took  no  notice  of 
the  action,  but  inquired  if  he  could  direct  me  to  the  residence 
of  Judge  White. 

"Judge  White?"  he  reiterated.  "Really,  stranger,  but 
come  in  here,  and  we  will  see,"  motioning  towards  the  cabin. 
This  movement  reveafed  the  handle  of  a  concealed  dirk.  That, 
however,  was  nothing  of  consequence  ;  weapons,  in  this  coun- 
try, being  considered  a  necessary  appendage  to  every  man. 

"  No,  sir,"  I  replied.  "  Have  no  occasion.  Will  you 
direct  me  ?" 

"  Walk  in,  and  we'll  have  a  game/'  he  said,  drawing  a 
pack  of  cards  from  his  bosom,  where  they  rested  side  by  side 
with  the  dirk. 

I  declined  in  the  least  offensive  manner  I  could  assume, 
satisfied  that  the  man  had  evil  designs  towards  me. 

"  But  I  say  you  must,  stranger,"  he  conttnued,  with  an 
attempt  to  be  facetious,  with  ended  in  a  hideous  leer.  "  It 
isn't  often  that  anybody  comes  this  way,  when  they  do,  we 
must  be  civil  and  obliging.  Now  there  han't  been  better 
liquor  to  be  had  around  here  since  old  Noah  came  out  of  the 
ark,  than  I've  got  in  yonder.  I  want  you  to  go  in  and  taste 
it,  come,"  and  he  grasped  me  by  the  shoulder,  attempting  to 
drag  me  forward.  He  was  a  powerful  man,  broad-chested, 
and  long-limbed,  and  his  grip  was  that  of  a  vice  ;  but  I  shook 
nim  off,  and  ran  ;  yes,  ran,  with  all  my  might  across  the 
plain.  I  heard  a  great  shouting  and  laughing  at  my  expense, 
but  no  one  followed  me. 

Wandering  about  in  one  direction  and  another  I  became 


JUDGE  WHITE'S  HOUSE.  51 

thoroughly  wearied,  when  ascending  a  small  eminence  the 
house  I  sought  appeared  before  me.  I  had  heard  it  described 
so  often  that  I  knew  it  instantly.  It  was  a  large  adobe 
house,  two  stories  high,  with  a  piazza  running  all  around. 
A  pretty  stream  of  water  coursed  rapidly  a  short  distance  in 
the  rear,  and  being  lined  with  a  growth  of  trees,  it  had  an 
Eastern  appearance  truly  refreshing.  On  the  other  side  of 
the  way  was  a  large  and  convenient  barn,  with  other  out- 
buildings, suitable  for  the  rearing  and  sheltering  of  stock. 
The  house  was  surrounded  by  a  good  fence,  with  very  neat 
gates.  The  yard  was  intersected  by  gravelled  walks,  with 
beds  of  flowers  on  either  side.  I  noticed  some  very  beautiful 
flowering  shrubs  peculiar  to  the  country,  and  others  also  of 
which  the  seeds  had  been  brought  from  the  East.  Two  or 
three  stout  healthy-looking  boys  were  playing  on  the  grass, 
and  the  sound  of  a  spinning  wheel  mingled  with  singing 
came  through  the  open  door. 

"  Judge  White  lives  here,  does  he  not ;"  I  asked  of  one 
of  the  boys. 

"  Yes  sir,"  said  the  little  fellow,  with  a  smile  of  intelli- 
gence. 

"  Is  he  at  home  I"  I  asked  again. 

"  Down  at  the  stable  yonder,"  said  the  boy,  pointing  to  a 
large  new  building.  "  The  Devons  are  there,  too  ;  he  thinks 
a  great  deal  of  them." 

While  I  was  speaking  to  the  child,  a  good-looking  woman 
came  to  the  door,  courteously  saluted  me,  with  an  invitation 
to  "  walk  in." 


52  THE   HUSBAND   IN   TTTAH. 

"  Run,  boys,  and  tell  your  father  that  a  gentleman  wishes 
to  see  him,"  she  said,  addressing  the  children  who  scampered 
off  with  great  glee. 

I  followed  her  into  a  large  and  handsomely  furnished  room  ; 
carpets  covered  the  floor  ;  there  was  a  neat,  well-filled  book- 
case, a  mirror,  several  pictures,  fancy  chairs,  a  sofa,  and 
elegant  harp.  Bouquets  and  vases  of  flowers  were  tastefully 
arranged  in  various  parts  of  the  room,  and  there  was  that 
comfortable  pleasant  air,  in  which  most  Mormon '  homes 
are  sadly  deficient.  Handing  me  a  chair,  and  seating  her- 
self nearly  opposite,  she  prepared  to  act  the  cheerful  enter- 
tainer during  the  absence  of  her  husband,  and  commenced 
by  asking  me  if  I  was  a  stranger  in  the  Mormon  country, 
to  which  I  made  a  suitable  reply. 

"  And  how  do  you  like  our  people  ?"  she  asked. 

My  answer  was  rather  equivocal.  "  Better  than  I  ex- 
pected." 

"  I  admire  your  intelligence,"  she  said  with  a  bland  smile. 

"We  have  been  greatly  misrepresented.  People  who 
come  among  us  as  a  general  thing,  are  much  too  prejudiced 
to  form  a  cool  dispassionate  judgment  of  our  institutions. 
They  see  and  report  only  one  side  ;  this  is  scarcely  fair  ?" 

I  answered  that  it  was  not. 

Tke  extreme  cases  of  female  suffering  and  unhappiness 
reported  in  the  books  and  papers  which  circulate  through 
the  Eastern  States,  are  by  no  means  general.  I  am  told, 
however,  that  formerly  it  was  much  more  the  case  than  now. 
Opposition  to  polygamy  is  the  effect  of  habit  and  education. 


POLYGAMY    A  PATRIARCHAL   INSTITUTION.  53 

Females  become  reconciled  to  it  by  custom.  Perceiving 
that  she  was  willing  to  discuss  the  matter,  I  said  that  among 
civilized  nations,  polygamy  had  generally  taken  the  name  of 
a  crime,  that  I  believed  it  was  rarely  attended  with  domes- 
tic happiness,  and  that  few  women  would  be  allowed  to 
tolerate  a  rival  in  the  affections  of  their  lord. 

She  answered  that  jealousies  and  heart-burnings  in  such 
cases  were  preposterous,  and  that  if  there  was  a  class  of  women 
on  earth  who  were"  really  and  truly  objects  of  pity,  it  was  the 
wives  of  small  farmers  and  poor  mechanics,  who,  generally 
speaking,  were  nothing  more  than  household  drudges — doing 
work  of  half-a-dozen,  though  unable  to  work  at  all. 

"  You  refer  to  the  States  ?" 

"  I  do,  where  thousands  of  women  are  expected  to  bear 
and  rear  from  six  to  one  dozen  children  apiece,  besides 
keeping  their  houses  in  order,  and  doing  with  their  own  hands 
all  the  cooking,  washing,  scrubbing,  making,  and  mending 
for  their  families.  Now,  suppose  all  the  sufferings  of  those 
women  during  ill  health,  all  their  toils,  cares  and  annoy- 
ances— for  these  must  exist  where  there  are  children,  with 
discontent  and  unhappiness  from  various  other  causes — 
were  all  drawn  in  one  picture,  keeping  the  worst  side 
constantly  in  view,  it  would  show  marriage  hi  a  dreadful 
light." 

"  Probably." 

"  No  one  can  deny  that  polygamy  is  a  patriarchal  institu- 
tion, directly  countenanced  by  the  Scriptures,  and  nowhere 
inhibited  by  them.  The  chosen  people,  the  Jews,  were 


54  THE   HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

direct  descendants,  not  simply  from  the  wife,  but  the  wives 
of  Jacob.  Bathsheba,  the  fourth  or  fifth  wife  of  David,  was 
the  lineal  progenitor  of  Christ. 

Here  the  conversation  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
Judge  White.  He  welcomed  me  to  his  house  with  great 
cordiality,  excusing  himself  for  not  coming  sooner,  by  saying, 
that  he  had  just  purchased  some  very  fine  Devons,  and  wished 
to  superintend  feeding  and  stabling  them. 

Many  of  these  Mormon  farmers  pay  great  attention  to 
the  breeding  of  stock,  and  no  country  in  the  world  can 
boast  a  superior  quality  of  butter  and  cheese.  The  bunch 
grass,  indigenous  to  the  climate,  gives  it  a  peculiar  yet  most 
delicious  flavor. 

Accompanying  Judge  White,  over  his  extensive  farm,  I 
was  surprised  and  delighted  with  its  judicious  arrangements. 
Whatever  may  be  the  errors  of  Mormon  theology,  or  the 
evils  of  its  social  customs,  it  certainly  does  not  disqualify  a 
man  for  the  business  of  life.  I  have  rarely  seen  a  place  on 
which  everything  was  more  admirably  contrived  for  comfort, 
convenience,  labor-saving,  and  economy  of  space.  The  sta- 
ble was  a  model  of  its  kind,  and  the  animals  were  sleek, 
docile,  and  kind  ;  soft  and  pliant  of  skin,  abundant  milkers, 
and  excessively  fond  of  the  bunch  grass. 

There  are  extensive  bottom  lands  on  this  farm,  subject  to 
be  flooded  by  freshets,  when  the  snow  melts  on  the  moun- 
tains. Here,  the  cows  are  pastured  usually  with  the  assist- 
ance of  "  herders,"  who  are  paid  for  their  services  by  monthly 
wages.  These  fellows  were  sitting  on  rocks  quietly  tuning 


AN    ABRUPT   QUESTION.  55 

a  rude  pipe,  or  lying  at  full  length  on  the  grass  beneath 
the  shade  of  cottonwood  trees,  while  the  cows  were  feeding 
a  little  way  off.  The  whole  scene  was  suggestive  of  the  pas- 
toral ages. 

The  lands  devoted  to  wheat  and  corn,  were  rather  ele- 
vated, and  of  very  fertile  soil.  The  wheat  was  heading,  and 
gave  promise  of  an  abundant  harvest,  and  the  long  sward- 
like  leaves  of  the  corn,  were  of  the  rankest,  deepest  green,  and 
rustled  pleasantly  as  we  approached.  There  were  extensive 
fields  of  potatoes,  a  large  garden  filled  with  vegetables,  and 
a  young  peach  orchard.  Several  laborers  were  employed  on 
the  farm,  and  I  learned  that  wages  were  much  the  same  as  in 
the  Eastern  States.  At  tea-time  we  returned  to  the  house, 
and  were  ushered  into  the  dining-room,  where  we  found  a 
table  abundantly  furnished  with  the  good  things  of  life.  The 
lady  with  whom  I  conversed  on  my  first  arrival,  presided  at 
the  table,  and  I  was  introduced  to  three  several  Mrs.  Whites 
whom  I  had  not  seen.  We  all  sat  down  together.  There 
were  no  exhibitions  of  ill  temper  or  uioroseness,  and  I  could 
not  help  wondering  whether  or  not  was  this  good  nature 
affected,  and  what  scenes  were  reserved  for  the  special  enter- 
tainment of  the  judge. 

When  the  supper  was  finished,  I  was  left  alone  with  the 
judge  for  a  time.  The  conversation  had  flagged  for  a  few 
minutes,  when  my  host  abruptly  asked  what  I  thought  of 
Mormonism.  The  question  was  sudden  and  unexpected,  and 
I  hesitated  to  answer  it.  He  laughed  outright,  saying 
"  You  do  not  know  what  to  think  1" 


56  THE  HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

"  Indeed,  I  do  not,"  I  answered. 

"  And  wiry  not  ?" 

"  Because  no  one  can  form  a  just  idea  of  a  people  until 
he  has  seen  them,  nor  even  then  without  the  exercise  of 
great  sagacity  and  judgment,  especially  if  their  institutions 
should  be  different  from  those  to  which  he  had  been  accus- 
tomed." 

"  A  wise  thought,  happily  expressed,"  said  Judge  White, 
"  though  the  usual  custom  of  tourists  is  to  run  through  a 
country,  selecting  and  sketching  the  most  prominent  objects, 
looking  out  extreme  cases  and  supposing  them  to  be  general, 
and  then,  after  a  large  blank  is  filled  up  entirely  from  the 
imagination,  the  world  receives  the  benefit  of  swallowing 
the  crude  and  ill-concocted  mass.  Our  people  are  not  per- 
fect by  any  means.  The  Mormon  church  requires  reform. 
I  am  not  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  system  as  it  exists 
among  us,  but  in  this  age  of  the  world,  where  free  opinion 
is  universally  tolerated,  no  two  people  think  alike.  What 
one  considers  a  deformity  is  regarded  by  another  as  a  great 
beauty,  and  the  very  thing  that  one  desires  to  preserve,  an- 
other will  wish  to  purge.  We  must  take  things  as  we  find 
them,  though  beneath  a  standard  of  imaginary  excellence. 
The  same  course  is  necessary  in  your  own  churches."  j 

"  I  am  aware  of  that." 

"  I  used  to  be  frequently  amused,  when  listening  to  dis- 
cussions on  the  relative  and  comparative  merit  of  the  differ- 
ent churches.  How  common  was  the  remark,  "  I  don't  think 
my  Church  perfectly  right,  but  only  the  nearest  right.  But 


CONVERSATION   WITH   JUDGE    WHITE.  57 

whatever  may  be  the  faults  of  Mormonism,  polygamy  is  not 
of  the  number." 

I  was  glad  when  he  touched  on  this  point,  feeling  some 
delicacy  in  introducing  it. 

"  Is  not  ?"  I  replied  inquiringly.  "  One  Mormon  gentleman 
with  whom  I  conversed,  and  who  had  several  wives,  objected 
to"  the  whole  system,  and  expressed  regret  that  he  had  ever 
been  tempted  to  adopt  it.  I  referred  to  Brother  Under- 
wood. 

"  Is  he  a  man  of  property  ?"  inquired  White. 

"  Some  considerable." 

"  Then  he  has  probably  been  unfortunate  in  the  choice  of 
his  wives." 

"  Very  likely." 

"  Still  that  proves  nothing  against  the  system.  Have  you 
never  heard  men  with  only  one  wife  express  regret  that  they 
were  ever  married  ?"  •* , 

"  Frequently." 

"  Yet  you  never  set  it  down  as  the  fault  of  the  system, 
but  that  of  the  individual." 

II  Even  so,  though  I   have  thought,  and  still  think,  that 
there  is   more  unhappiness  in  marriage  than  in  celibacy. 
To  early  marriages  and  the  necessity  of  supporting  large 
families  without  previous  provision  being  made  for  them, 
nine-tenths  of  the  poverties  and  miseries  in  our  large  cities 
may  be  attributed." 

"  I  believe  it,"  he  replied.  "  Among  us  it  is  the  custom 
to  obtain  the  consent  of  the  first  wife  to  the  second  mar 

3*      " 


58  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

riage,  not  because  the  law  requires  it,  but  as  a  matter  of 
domestic  policy." 

"  And  do  the  first  wives  consent  to  this  willingly  ?" 

"  Generally  they  do,"  I  am  told. 

"  Of  course  your  wife  did." 

"  Have  you  been  conversing  with  her  ?"  he  inquired 
archly. 

"  A  short  time  this  morning." 

"  She  had  no  complaints  to  enter  ?" 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind." 

"  She  gets  along  admirably.  The  same  as  a  mother  with 
her  daughters.  I  never  entertained  a  thought  of  taking  the 
second  wife,  till  she,  herself,  made  me  the  proposition.  We 
had  a  very  large  dairy  ;  it  made  abundance  of  work,  and 
help  was  scarce,  with  high  wages.  What  was  still  worse, 
the  hired  girls,  if  reproved,  or  required  to  do  anything  not 
perfectly  agreeable,  would  get  offended  and  go  away,  leaving 
us  in  the  lurch.  On  one  such  occasion,  when  Betty  ran  off 
with  a  half-breed  Indian  without  giving  us  a  moment's  warn- 
ing, my  wife  thus  addressed  me  : 

"  '  My  dear,  I  am  utterly  disgusted  with  this  system  of 
hiring  girls/ 

" '  So  am  I  ;  but  what  are  we  to  do  ?  You  cannot  possibly 
bear  the  whole  burden  of  labor/ 

" '  No,  I  can't  ;  but  you  can  take  another  wife/ 

"  '  Take  another  wife,'  I  said,  surprised  that  she  should 
propose  the  matter  so  bluntly. 

"  '  Certainly  ;  why  not  ?'  she  answered.     '  There  is  Sarah 


THE  JUDGE  AND   HIS   WIVES.  59 

Fogg,  a  most  excellent  dairy-maid,  and  a  girl  of  good  dispo- 
sition. If  you  could  marry  her  it  would  be  much  better  than 
to  hire  a  servant.  She  would  take  more  interest  in  the 
work,  and  I  think  we  could  get  along  quite  as  well  together. 
What  do  you  say  ?' 

"  '  That  I  will  do  so,  if  you  wish  it.'  And  the  next  month 
Sarah  Fogg  became  my  wife.  Since  then,  I  have  united 
with  others,  as  it  seemed  expedient." 

"  Expedience,  then,  is  the  governing  principle  in  Mormon 
marriages  ?" 

"  Sometimes,  though  not  always,"  he  replied.  "  Many 
women  are  '  sealed '  to  a  husband  for  the  sake  of  salvation." 

This  absurdity  was  too  much  for  my  gravity,  and  I  could 
not  suppress  a  smile.  A  shade  of  displeasure  passed  over 
his  countenance.  It  was  but  momentary,  however^  and  he 
became  serene  and  cheerful.  Is  it  possible,  I  thought,  that 
a  man  of  such  seeming  intelligence  and  probity  can  cherish 
ridiculous  notions,  or  is  all  that  I  have  heard  of  ]\£ormon 
hypocrisy,  indeed,  true  ?  Perhaps  he  guessed  what  was  pass- 
ing in  my  mind,  though  too  well  bred  to  manifest  anger. 

We  were  soon  joined  by  the  ladies,  all  wives  of  my  host. 
I  believe  they  were  all  very  industrious,  and  so  many  hands 
certainly  made  labor  light.  They  came  in,  each  with  her 
knitting  work,  and  all  apparently  cheerful  and  contented. 

"  My  dear,"  said  the  husband  to  his  first  wife,  who  seemed 
a  sort  of  sultana,  "  is  the  milking  done  ?" 

"  Certainly  it  is,"  she  replied. 

"  And  the  men  have  had  their  suppers  ?" 


60  THE  HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

"  They  have." 

11  Did  you  give  them  orders  to  yard  and  stable  the  cows  ?" 

"  To  be  sure,  I  did." 

"  I  thought  you  might  have  forgotten  it,"  he  returned, 
half  apologetically. 

"  When  did  I  ever  forget  such  things  ?' 

11  Never,  that  I  know  of — excuse  me." 

The  conversation  was  resumed,  and  I  soon  began  to  sus- 
pect that  the  religion  of  this  man,  like  his  marriages,  was 
founded  on  expedience.  No  man  of  the  world  could  have 
exhibited  a  more  utter  absence  of  all  moral  principle, 
clothed  in  the  most  specious  and  sophistical  language. 

"I  think  your  people  are  fond  of  hair-splitting  theories," 
he  observed  ;  "  they  consider  it  just,  and  right,  and  virtuous 
for  a  man  to  have  three  or  four,  or  even,  six  or  seven  wives 
one  after  the  other." 

"  But  only  one  at  a  time,"  I  suggested. 

"  Yes,  one  at  a  tune,  though  if  it  is  right  to  marry  several 
at  different  times,  it  must  be  right  also  to  have  them  at 
once.  Virtue  or  vice  must  be  inherent  in  the  action  itself, 
and  not  merely  a  question  of  time." 

I  replied  that  I  was  not  prepared  to  argue  the  subject 
with  him. 

"  But  you  can  hear  my  reasons  and  arguments,"  he  replied, 
and  launched  forth  in  a  strain  that  I  will  not  hazard  the 
good  opinion  of  my  readers  by  repeating. 

During  the  evening  he  requested  his  youngest  and  last 
wife,  who  was  very  pretty,  to  favor  us  with  a  song.  She  con- 


RETIRING   FOE  THE   NIGHT.  61 

sented,  accompanying  her  voice  with  the  harp.  When  the 
music  ceased,  and  I  had  complimented  her  execution,  which 
was  very  good,  her  husband  informed  me,  that  she  was  the 
daughter  of  a  wealthy  New  England  family,  who,  becoming 
converted  to  Mormonism,  had  abandoned  their  home  and 
friends,  and  emigrated  with  the  saints. 

He  considered  her  courage,  perseverance,  and  eminent  love 
of  truth,  as  most  remarkable,  and  said  these  qualities  first 
won  his  regard. 

When  bed-time  approached,  the  ladies  took  leave  of  each 
other,  with  a  friendly  good-night,  and  retired. 

"  Do  you  prefer  to  sit  up  late  ?"  inquired  my  host,  look- 
ing at  his  watch,  "  it  is  now  past  ten." 

1 1  About  my  usual  bed-time,"  I  replied,  rising. 

Judge  White  rose  also,  took  a  silver  candlestick  from  the 
table,  and  said  that  he  would  show  me  to  my  room.  I  fol- 
lowed him  up  stairs,  to  a  very  comfortable  chamber,  neatly 
furnished.  He  sat  down  the  light,  politely  hoped  that  I 
would  sleep  well,  bade  me  good-night,  and  went  out  shutting 
the  door  behind  him. 

The  bed  was  good  and  well  made,  the  apartment  fresh 
and  airy,  yet  I  found  it  impossible  to  sleep.  Judge  White 
and  his  wives,  their  seeming  intelligence,  yet  absurd  and 
depraved  ideas,  filled  my  mind.  It  was  a  new  phase  of 
human  nature  for  which  I  was  altogether  unprepared,  but  it 
filled  me  with  greater  abhorrence  of  the  system  they  denomi- 
nated patriarchal,  than  I  had  previously  conceived. 

1  had  not  yet  learned  to  regard  marriage  as  nothing  more 


62  THE   HUSBAND   IN  UTAH. 

than  a  civil  contract — a  matter  of  mere  expedience.  I  had 
beeii  taught  that  it  was  a  holy  ordinance,  instituted  by  the 
Almighty,  and  that  a  union  thus  consummated  would  be  per- 
petuated in  another  world.  But  to  sanction  and  excuse  poly- 
gamy, my  Mormon  friend  had  taken  an  entirely  different  view 
of  the  subject ;  he  had  divested  it  of  every  charm  only  mere 
practical  utility  ;  his  connections  were  purely  sexual,  with 
neither  romance  nor  sentiment  to  clothe  and  adorn  them. 
How  would  my  pious  and  venerable  mother  regard  such 
sophistries  ?  What  would  my  venerable  and  white-haired 
father  say  to  them  ?  Then  I  thought  of  the  first  Mrs.  White  ; 
thought,  too,  of  F^nny  Wright,  and  others  of  the  strong- 
minded  sisterhood,  and  their  preferences  for  tl  free  love." 


THE    MORNING. 

The  family  were  early  risers.  The  morning  star  was  blaz- 
ing in  the  east,  when  I  heard  the  judge  arousing  his  men, 
and  presently  the  whole  house  was  astir.  The  females  were 
busy  milking  and  getting  breakfast.  I  saw  two  from  the 
window  tripping  across  the  dewy  grass,  each  carrying  a  clean 
bright  pail. 

Descending  from  my  chamber  to  the  sitting-room  of  the 
previous  evening,  I  found  the  table  laid  out  preparatory  to 
the  morning  meal.  It  was  covered  with  a  cloth,  white  as 
the  snow  on  the  mountains.  The  dishes  were  stone  china  of 
elegant  pattern,  and  the  knives  and  forks  had  been  rubbed 


BREAKFAST.  63 

and  polished  until  they  shone  like  a  mirror.  The  food  was 
brought  in  by  the  two  first  wives  of  the  judge,  aftd  break- 
fust  was  announced.  The  two  milkers  had  not  yet  come  in, 
and  we  sat  down  without  them.  I  have  rarely  seen  a  table 
better  provided  with  good  substantial  edibles.  There  were 
fried  fowl,  and  fried  bacon  and  eggs,  with  cold  ham  and 
game.  There  were  preserved  strawberries  and  honey.  There 
were  cold  wheaten  bread,  and  hot  corn  bread,  hot  biscuits, 
and  hot  short-cakes.  There  were  home-made  butter  and 
cheese,  with  most  excellent  coffee.  A  pitcher  of  milk  stood 
on  the  corner  of  the  table,  and  glass  tumblers  were  placed 
by  each  plate  to  receive  it  when  wished  for.  Judge  White 
made  a  short  extemporary  prayer,  nowise  different  from 
those  usually  delivered  on  such  occasions — thanking  the 
Lord  for  the  bounties  of  nature  set  before  them,  and  the 
revelation  of  divine  truth  which  had  enlightened  their  minds. 
At  the  conclusion,  the  females  pronounced  "Amen"  with 
one  voice,  and  their  lord  requested  me  to  "  help  myself," 
though  -without  waiting  for  me  to  do  so,  he  commenced 
piling  the  delicious  viands  on  my  plate.  I  ate  heartily,  and 
my  host  was  evidently  delighted. 

"  Don't  you  think  the  patriarchal  institution  works  admi- 
rably in  my  family  ?"  he  inquired,  (d.) 

"It  seems  to,"  I  answered. 

"There  is  no  seeming  about  it,"  he  said  quickly,  "it  is  all 
real— matter  of  fact.     Don't  you  believe  it  ?" 

"  Certainly  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt  it." 

"  And  there  is  no  reason  why  you  should,"  returned  the 
first  Mrs.  White. 


64:  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

I  mentioned  my  adventure  at  the  hut  on  the  morning  of 
the  previous  day. 

"  I  know  them,"  said  my  host,  "  they  are  mischievous  fel- 
lows, and  doubtless  were  influenced  by  some  evil  intent.  I 
have  more  than  once  suspected  them  of  injuring  my  cattle  ; 
and  once  I  caught  them  in  the  very  act  of  dressing  one  of 
my  sheep." 

"  Are  they  Mormons  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  They  come  under  the  spiritual  jurisdiction  of  our  pro- 
phet, though  they  have  no  faith — no  religion  of  any  kind. 
We  have  made  great  efforts  for  their  conversion,  but  without 
success." 

"  They  seem  to  have  adopted  Mormon  institutions.  I  saw 
several  females  with  them.'? 

"  Yes  ;  they  have  two  or  three  wives  apiece,  and  I  don't 
know  how  many  children." 

"  Does  the  system  do  well  in  their  case  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  I  should  expect  not,  very,"  he  replied.  "  If  I  had  the 
laws  to  make,  such  fellows  should  not  get  married  at 
all." 

I  looked  surprised,  perhaps  inquiringly. 

"  No  one  should  have  the  privilege  of  getting  married, 
who  had  not  made  provision  for  taking  care  of  a  wife." 

Thinking  that  the  conversation  might  be  profitably 
changed,  I  inquired  what  he  thought  of  the  general  condi- 
tion and  character  of  the  Half-breeds. 

His  observations  and  opinions  might  not  be  of  much  value 
here,  though  they  verified  my  own  experience  of  the  same 
people.  He  said  they  combined  the  worst  qualities  of  the 


THE    HALF   BREEDS.  65 

Indian  and  white  man,  with  little  of  the  good  belonging  to 
either  ;  were  lazy,  shiftless,  improvident,  and  lived  wretch- 
edly ;  rarely  working  at  all,  but  depending  for  subsistence 
on  the  precarious  supply  of  hunting  and  fishing,  or  the  plun- 
der of  fields  and  folds. 

I  observed  that  they  seemed  quite  numerous. 

"  They  are  numerous,"  he  replied,  "  more  so  than  you 
would  suppose  from  your  short  acquaintance  in  this  country. 
There  are  hundreds,  and,  I  verily  believe,  thousands  of  them 
of  all  sexes  and  ages." 

Mrs.  White  here  interposed  that  some  of  the  half-breeds 
were  respectable,  wealthy,  independent  men,  far  superior  to 
the  general  class  of  Indians,  and  fully  equal  to  the  whites, 
whose  opportunities  for  education  and  knowledge  of  the 
world  had  been  no  greater. 

"  Oh,  yes,  my  dear,"  he  replied,  "  there  are  exceptions  to 
the  most  general  rule."  He  then  stated  as  a  grand  cli- 
macteric to  their  depravity,  that  they  were  sadly  deficient  in 
religious  faith  ;  that  neither  their  hopes  nor  fears  of  future 
punishments  or  pleasures  could  be  excited  ;  though  he  owned 
that  they  were  disposed  to  relish  and  practise  polygamy. 

I  subsequently  learned  that  though  sufficiently  numerous, 
their  isolated  condition,  as  individuals,  precluded  their  form- 
ing a  distinct  class,  and  that  the  circumstances  attending 
their  births  generally  threw  them  into  association  with  the 
Indians. 

They  compose  the  illegitimate  offspring  of  white  hunters, 
trappers,  and  United  States  soldiers,  and  Indian,  females. 


66  THE   HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

As  the  habits  of  these  people  are  migratory,  and  they  rarely 
occupy  permanent  residences,  the  mother  and  her  child,  or 
children,  is  usually  left  among  her  own  people.  The  men 
are  generally  robust,  capable  of  great  endurance,  though 
predisposed  to  intemperate  habits.  Their  complexion  is  sin- 
gular, taking,  in  matured  manhood,  the  color  of  a  dark  red 
berry  ;  their  features  are  those  of  the  white  man,  with  the 
black,  snaky,  glittering  eye  of  the  sons  of  the  wilderness. 
Like  other  mongrels,  they  are  said  to  be  short-lived,  and  ex- 
tremely liable  to  the  attacks  of  infectious  diseases. 

Some  of  the  half-breed  females  are  said  to  be  models  of 
womanly  beauty,  combining  in  the  most  exquisite  degree  the 
lithe,  agile  figure  and  graceful  proportions  of  their  mother's 
race,  with  delicate  features  and  clear  olive  complexions. 
These  are  frequently  sought  in  honorable  marriage  by  the 
whites,  and  it  cannot  be  denied  that  they  make  good  wives 
and  affectionate  mothers  ;  being,  as  an  old  trapper  once 
assured  me,  much  more  modest  and  humble,  and  much  less 
exacting  and  capricious,  than  their  white  sisters.  The  old 
fellow  had  good  opportunities  to  know  something  about  it, 
having  shared  his  cabin  with  seven  or  eight  different  ones  at 
different  times,  and  being,  according  to  his  own  account,  the 
father  of  nearly  a  score  of  children. 

I  saw  many  of  these  women  in  the  Mormon  city.  They 
were  quite  as  distinguishable  as  the  Quadroon  women  of  the 
South.  Some  were  residents  with  Mormon  husbands,  though 
the  greater  part  were  occasional  visitors.  They  usually  wore 
the  picturesque  costume  common  among  Indian  females  of 


THE  HALF  BREEDS.  67 

the  higher  class,  and  many  times  were  well-mounted  on 
valuable  horses,  which  they  rode  with  ease  and  grace.  Many 
of  them  carry  on  a  considerable  traffic  with  the  whites. 
They  embroider  buffalo  robes,  woollen  blankets,  moccasins, 
and  similar  articles,  in  the  most  beautiful  manner  ;  are 
extremely  skillful  in  knitting  bead  work-pockets,  necklaces, 
and  armlets  ;  weave  mats  and  baskets  from  the  inside  bark 
of  certain  kinds  of  trees  and  rushes,  and  practise  other  little 
arts  of  handicraft.  These  articles  they  barter  for  beads, 
those  indispensable  ornaments  for  the  toilet  of  an  Indian 
belle,  needles,  vermilion,  and  similar  things,  though  they 
have  learned  the  value  of  money,  and  prize  it  highly.  And 
thus  it  is  wherever  the  white  man  treads.  Love  of  gold, 
like  a  shadow,  follows  his  footsteps,  and  all  with  whom  he 
conies  in  contact  are  infected  with  the  same  selfish  passion. 


68  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ALEXANDER  BURNHAM HIS  HOUSE — TRAGIC    OCCURRENCES 

WEDDINGS DEATHS. 

I  HAVE  described,  perhaps  with  tedious  prolixity,  the 
order  and  decorum  manifest  in  the  family  arrange- 
ments of  Judge  White,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  an  idea  of 
the  phases  which  polygamy  under  certain  circumstances 
assumes,  and  the  arguments  by  which  its  votaries  attempt  to 
excuse  it ;  yet  this  aspect  must  not  be  considered  as  a  general 
characteristic,  but  only  as  occurring  in  rare  and  exceptional 
cases,  where  the  disposition  of  the  parties  combine  with 
pecuniary  abilities,  in  a  manner  particularly  favorable. 

Notwithstanding  all  that  has  been  said  and  written  of 
the  sentimentality  and  romantic  tendencies  of  women,  I  find 
by  observation  that  as  a  general  thing  they  are  excessively 
practical.  They  ask  husbands  who  can  support  them  in  ease 
and  splendor,  and  so  long  as  this  is  obtained  care  little  for 
moral  character  and  personal  habits.  Do  not  many  in  all 
our  large  cities  prefer  living  in  style  as  the  mistresses  of 


POLYGAMY.  .       69 

rich  men  to  being  the  lowly  and  industrious  wives  of  poor 
tradesmen  or  mechanics  ? 

Even  in  the  Empire  State  I  have  known  women  not  averse 
to  polygamy.  Fifteen  or  twenty  years  since  there  lived  in 
Onondaga  County,  a  man  named  Warner,  who  owned  three 
farms,  with  large  brick  houses,  and  supported  a  wife  at  either 
place.  The  dwellings  were  in  one  vicinity,  and  the  women 
were  good  neighbors  to  each  other,  frequently  visiting  and 
otherwise  extending  little  courtesies.  The  younger  of  these 
women  had  refused  the  hand  of  a  respectable,  but  poor  man, 
declaring  that  what  she  asked  and  would  have  of  a  husband 
was  physical  support  above  the  actual  necessity  of  labor. 

Another  man  in  the  same  State  had  two  wives,  who  lived 
in  two  houses  close  together,  on  the  same  farm.  Both  had 
families,  and  the  children  ran  and  played  together  with  great 
harmony.  This  man  might  often  -be  seen  at  public  places 
with  his  wives,  one  on  either  arm.  They  usually  dressed 
precisely  alike,  and  might  readily  have  been  mistaken  for 
two  sisters.  They  were  very  friendly,  and  never  manifested 
a  jealous  or  contentious  disposition. 

A  former  acquaintance  of  mine  is  now  living  in  the  State 
of  Ohio,  with  his  two  wives.  The  women  seem  perfectly 
satisfied  with  their  condition,  and  assist  each  other  in  the 
performance  of  domestic  duties,  with  great  alacrity.  Yet 
none  of  these  women  or  their  spouses  were  Mormons,  and 
I  have  mentioned  them  to  show  that  after  all  the  Mrs. 
Whites  were  not  the  unique  and  singular  beings  that  some 
Anight  imagine. 


70  THE   HUSBAND   IK   UTAH. 

Now,  even  in  Mormondom,  if  the  females  would  unani- 
mously set  their  faces  against  polygamy  it  might  soon  be 
be  abolished.  Why  they  do  not  is  referrible  to  particular 
causes.  They  have  neither  the  time,  nor  opportunity,  nor 
capacity  for  concerted  action  on  the  subject.  Many  of  them, 
I  verily  believe,  are  well  suited  with  it.  Others  consider  it 
necessary  because  the  elders  tell  them  it  is,  and  the  remain- 
der, being  the  minority,  are  obliged  to  conform. 

How  much  the  former  are  to  be  pitied  I  leave  the  theolo- 
gian and  moral  philosopher  to  decide  ;  but  the  condition 
of  the  latter  is  most  deplorable.  Generally  impulsive  and 
passionate,  they  cannot  view  things  with  the  cool  expediency 
of  Mrs.  White,  and  not  sufficiently  superstitious  to  be 
governed  in  all  their  feelings  and  sentiments  by  the  priest- 
hood, their  souls  revolt  at  the  associations  and  connections 
in  which  they  are  placed.  Their  lives  become  a  continued 
scene  of  bickerings,  jealousies,  and  contentions,  rendering 
themselves  and  all  around  them  supremely  miserable.  In 
such  cases,  as  Maria  Underwood  informed  me,  the  most 
tragic  occurrences  are  not  uncommon,  yet  it  usually  happens 
that  the  affair  is  hushed  up,  and  very  few  either  hear  or 
even  suspect  the  truth. 

I  requested  her  to  relate  without  exaggeration  the  history 
of  these  events.     She  smiled  sadly  in  return,  and  asked  me 
if  1  ever  heard  of  a  woman  in  the  States  stabbing  or  poison 
ing  her  rival  through  jealousy  and  hatred  ? 

"  Certainly,  I  have  heard  of  such  things,"  I  replied. 

II  Then  you  can  readily  conceive  what  they  do  here  under 


POLYGAMY.  71 

the  influence  of  the  same  passions,"  she  answered.  "  Human 
nature  is  the  same  everywhere,  and  in  some  cases  proves 
itself  superior  to  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places,  though 
yielding  perhaps  to  as  great  evils  of  another  kind." 

She  then  went  on  to  inform  me  that  the  most  strenuous 
opposers  to  polygamy  were  those  who  came  there  ignorant 
of  its  existence,  or  those  who  with  little  or  no  faith  in  the 
Mormon  doctrines,  had  accompanied  their  husbands  thither 
rather  than  be  abandoned  by  them. 

"  And  do  women,  who  are  not  converts,  ever  come  here  ?" 
I  inquired  with  some  surprise. 

"  Certainly  they  do,"  she  answered.  "  There  is  Mrs. 
White." 

"  And  what  is  she  ?" 

"  A  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  Fanny  Wright." 

"  Is.it  possible  ?" 

"  Even  so.  She  lived  in  Massachusetts  several  years, 
where  she  lectured  on  Woman's  rights  and  other  issues  of 
the  day." 

"  She  seemed  very  intelligent." 

"  Of  course,  she  is  intelligent,  no  one  doubts  that." 

"  But,  Maria,"  I  questioned,  "  can't  you  relate  to  me  some 
of  those  tragic  occurrences,  of  which  you  have  spoken  ?" 

"  I  could,  though  it  might  occasion  trouble  for  me  to 
do  so." 

"  What  kind  of  trouble  ;  you  cannot,  certainly,  be  afraid 
of  your  husband  ?" 

"  Not  exactly  afraid  of  him,  but  it  is  the  safest  here,  I 


72  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

believe,  as  it  is  everywhere  else,  to  see  nothing,  hear  noth- 
ing, and  know  nothing.  By  professing  ignorance  I  have 
frequently  avoided  trouble.". 

"  But  such  professions  will  not  avail  you  now/'  I  replied. 

She  smiled,  and  rising,  went  to  the  door,  opened  it  and 
looked  out. 

"  \VTiom  do  you  fear  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  No  one,"  she  answered,  but  proceeded  to  examine  the 
windcws.  She  then  remarked,  as  if  talking  to  herself: 
"  They  have  all  gone,  I  believe,  but  Underwood,  and  he  is 
in  tte  bar  entertaining  a  drunken  soldier,  and  will  hardly 
have  time  to  play  the  eavesdropper."  Then  seating  herself, 
she  inquired  :  "  Did  you  ever  know,  or  have  you  ever  seen 
Alexander  Burnham  t" 

"  Never  to  my  knowledge  ;  but  what  of  him  ?" 

"  Nothing  of  him,  though  what  I  am  about  to  relate 
occurred  in  his  family." 

"  The  same  thing,"  I  suggested. 

"  Well,  it  makes  no  difference,  but  come  to  the  window 
and  I  will  point  out  his  house  ;"  and  she  led  the  way.  "  You 
see  that  dwelling  yonder,  seemingly  isolated,  and  occupying 
a  picturesque  situation  on  the  elevated  plateau  ?" 

I  assented,  remarking  that  I  should  suppose  it  to  be  a 
very  pleasant  place. 

"It  is,"  she  answered.  "The  landscape  is  agreeably 
diversified  with  hill  and  valley,  mountain  and  meadow,  and 
presents  altogether  a  rare  combination  of  natural  beauties ; 
but  the  house — you  just  ought  to  see  the  house." 


MBS.   BTJKNHAM.  '73 

"  What  is  there  remarkable  about  that  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  Nothing  so  very  remarkable,  when  all  things  are  con- 
sidered," she  replied  ;  "yet  to  one  accustomed  only  to  the 
square,  plain,  substantial  buildings  of  the  Eastern  and  Mid- 
dle States,  it  would  be  neither  more  nor  less  than  a  curi- 
osity." «. 

"  What  is  it  like  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  It  is  a  long,  rambling,  irregular  concern,"  she  answered. 
"  At  first  it  was  a  plain  adobe  structure,  with  three  apart- 
ments on  the  ground  floor,  and  as  many  above  ;  but  since 
then  wings  and  lean-tos  have  been  built,  and  domestic  offi- 
ces, such  as  kitchens  and  nurseries,  erected  ;  these  various 
rooms  communicating  with  each  other  by  closets  or  small 
and  generally  dark  entries. 

"  Then  you  have  been  there  ?"  I  said  inquiringly. 

"  Certainly,  I  have  been  there  to  both  weddings  and 
funerals." 

"  And  how  many  wives  has  Mr.  Burnham  ?" 

"  Only  three  at  present,"  she  answered.  "  To  accommo- 
date these  wives,  the  rooms  are  subdivided  into  suites  of 
apartments,  wonderfully  alike  in  their  appearance  and  ap- 
pointments. To  describe  one  will  give  a  general  idea  of  all. 
Each  consists  of  a  bed-room,  sitting-room,  and  closet,  simply 
furnished  with  such  necessary  conveniences  as  civilized  life 
renders  indispensable  to  neatness  and  comfort.  Yet  all  the 
movables,  the  chairs,  tables,  curtains,  glasses,  beds,  even  to 
the  scent-bottles  and  work-baskets,  are  precisely  of  the  same 

4 


74:  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

color,  quality  and  cost.  In  the  living  inmates  of  these  rooms 
alone  a  difference  exists,  and  that  is  difference  indeed. 

"  Mr.  Burnham  was  a  well  disposed  man,  whose  character 
exhibited  a  singular  mixture  of  strength  and  weakness,  wis- 
dom and  folly.  Though  apparently  wishing  to  make  all 
around  him  happy,  his  well-meant  endeavors  frequently  mis- 
carried, through  his  own  want  of  foresight  and  judgment.  He 
had  a  pleasant  voice,  a  kind  face,  and  was  generally  liked  as 
a  neighborly,  good  sort  of  man.  He  was  probably  aware  of 
his  mental  deficiencies  when  he  concluded  to  embark  his 
domestic  happiness  amid  the  quicksands  of  polygamy.  He 
might  have  considered  himself  able  to  educe  order  out  of 
that  chaos  in  the  family  establishment,  though  it  is  much 
more  likely  that  he  thought  nothing  about  it,  but  married 
his  second  wife,  as  most  men  do  their  first,  from  mere  pas- 
sional attraction," 

"  Had  he  been  long  a  resident  of  Utah  ?" 

"  He  came  in  with  the  first  settlers,  bringing  his  wife  and 
one  daughter.  Mrs.  Burnham  was  a  woman  of  high  pas- 
sions, great  strength  of  character,  and  unusual  mental  power. 
She  was  tall  and  commanding  in  stature,  moved  with  the 
majesty  and  grace  of  a  queen  ;  yet  these  exterior  advan- 
tages were  more  than  counterbalanced  by  a  deficiency  in 
moral  and  religious  principle. 

"  Though  the  daughter  of  pious  parents,  and  educated  by 
a  mother  particularly  exemplary,  she  seemed  utterly  devoid 
of  conscientious  restraints.  Public  opinion,  however,  exer- 


MK8.    BUKNHAM.  75 

cised  great  influence  over  her,  and  while  many  doubted  her 
goodness  of  heart,  no  one  could  point  to  any  open  infringe- 
ment of  the  laws  of  society,  or  the  fact  of  a  lax  morality. 
She  was  the  senior  of  her  husband  by  several  years,  and  it 
was  whispered  that  the  marriage  on  his  part  was  one  of  ex- 
pedience, rather  than  affection.  Whether  as  a  consequence 
of  this,  or  his  knowledge  of  her  unprincipled  character,  'or 
both  combined,  Mrs.  Burnham  never  acquired  any  great  in- 
fluence over  her  husband's  mind,  though  her  love  for  him 
was  of  the  most  ardent  and  passionate  nature.  When  the 
Mormon  missionaries  came  to  their  native  village,  and  his 
easy  and  credulous  mind  was  won  to  the  belief  of  their  tenets, 
she  cared  little,  and  said  less.  All  religions,  or  none  at  all, 
were  the  same  to  her,  and  when  he  openly  avowed  his  deter- 
mination to  emigrate  to  Utah,  she  readily  declared  her 
willingness  to  follow  him,  even  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  if 
he  desired  it. 

41  Mrs.  Burnham  had  always  been  conscious  that  her  pas- 
sionate affection  was  not  returned  measure  for  measure> 
though  she  never  found  occasion  to  complain  of  neglect  or 
ill-treatment.  He  was  uniformly  kind,  and  when  a  daughter 
was  given  to  their  arms,  his  demonstrations  of  tenderness  were 
neither  few  nor  feigned.  Time,  however,  gradually  effaced 
the  novelty  of  paternity.  The  father  relapsed  into  his 
accustomed  manner  of  coldness  and  constraint,  and  his  wife 
solaced  herself  with  a  mother's  cares,  and  their  reward. 

"  Mrs.  Burnham  was  one  of  those  people  who  never  weary 
in  the  pursuit  of  an  object.  She  had  determined  during  the 


76  THE  HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

first  year  of  her  matrimonial  life,  that  if  she  could  not  com- 
mand her  husband's  love,  she  would  at  least  extort  his 
praise  by  good  management  and  attention  to  all  wifely 
duties.  And  this  laudable  design  she  carried  out  by  the 
most  uriremitted  exertions.  His  appetites  were  consulted, 
his  tastes  gratified.  His  home  was  always  pleasant,  neat, 
and  cheerful,  and  his  table  spread  in  the  nicest  manner.  At 
evening  the  most  comfortable  place  by  the  glowing  fire  was 
kept  for  him,  and  the  easy-chair,  slippers  and  newspaper 
provided  to  his  hand. 

"  Could  Mrs.  Burnham  have  found  it  in  her  heart  to  be 
satisfied  with  gratitude  and  esteem,  anything  in  short  but 
passionate  affection,  she  might  have  been  happy,  though  as 
it  was,  she  continually  pined  and  longed  for  the  good  beyond 
her  reach.  She  felt  that  gratitude  and  esteem  were  cold 
and  commonplace.  She  had  given  love,  and  she  asked  it  in 
return.  Thus  several  years  passed  away. 

"It  is  well  known  that  some  tune  elapsed  after  the  rise 
of  Mormonism  before  its  peculiar  doctrines  were  publicly 
proclaimed.  Had  Mrs.  Burnham  fully  understood  them,  it  is 
to  be  presumed  that  she  would  have  opposed  her  husband's 
scheme  of  uniting  with  that  people.  But  accustomed  to 
comply  with  his  wishes,  she  bade  farewell  to  the  scenes  of 
her  youth,  without  a  tear,  and  almost  without  a  sigh. 

"  It  is  unnecessary  to  recount  the  incidents  of  «their  jour- 
ney. They  arrived  in  Utah,  and  Mr.  Burnham  prepared  a 
home  for  his  family,  and  tried  with  a  right  good  will  to  make 
them  comfortable  and  contented.  But  Mrs.  Burnham  dis- 


MBS.   BUENHAM.  77 

covered  too  late  that  she  had  taken  a  step  most  fatal  to 
her  peace.  For  the  first  time  she  had  reason  to  reproach 
her  husband  for  neglect.  He  would  perhaps  be  detained 
from  home  on  business  of  the  church,  leaving  her  without 
food  or  fuel.  Then,  too,  she  was  shocked  with  the  develop- 
ments of  polygamy,  but  true  to  her  woman's  nature,  she 
never  for  a  moment  wavered  in  her  resolution,  to  be  all  and 
everything  to  her  husband.  This  she  conceived  would  guard 
him  against  the  temptation  to  take  another  wife,  and  through 
weariness  and  grief,  and  manifold  discouragements  she  toiled 
and  struggled. 

"  Mr.  Burnham  had  been  absent  from  home  two  or  three 
days,  and  returned  unusually  hilarious  and  cheerful,  embraced 
his  wife  and  kissed  his  daughter  with  a  great  demonstration 
of  affection,  and  then  sitting  down,  commenced  a  conversa- 
tion at  once  singular  and  unique. 

"'My  dear/  he  said,  addressing  his  wife,  'we  have  a 
nice  little  place  here,  I  think.  It  makes  no  pretensions,  and 
it  is  cosy  and  comfortable.  Amy's  bright  face  is  a  great 
improvement  to  it.  But  Amy  needs  a  companion.  Now, 
my  dear,  would  you  have  any  objection  to  take  a  child,  one 
of  the  finest  and  freshest  creatures  on  earth  ?' 

" '  A  child  I  take  a  child  I'  echoed  Mrs.  Burnham  in 
supreme  astonishment. 

"  '  Not  exactly  a  child  in  years/  pursued  Mr.  Burnham, 
'  but  a  child  of  nature,  simple,  unsophisticated,  enthusiastic, 
and  an  orphan,  the  daughter  of  my  old  friend.  Though  she 
can  play,  sing,  dance,  draw,  sketch,  and  write  poetry,  it  is 


78  THE  HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

her  misfortune  that  she  could  never  learn  to  do  anything 
really  useful.  She  is  much  too  delicate  for  household  labors  ; 
sewing  she  fears  would  spoil  her  fine  eyes.  She  has  no 
patience  with  children,  and  so  is  incapable  of  teaching,  or 
attending  on  them.  A  being  so  helpless  and  guileless,  with 
such  a  fine  inaptitude  for  worldly  affairs,  must  excite  the 
sympathy  of  every  man/ 

"  '  I  believe,  however,  that  few  women  would  fancy  such 
an  addition  to  their  household/  said  Mrs.  Burnham. 

"  '  It  has  been  revealed  to  me/  continued  Burnham,  with- 
out noticing  his  wife's  remark,  '  that  it  is  my  duty  to  adopt 
her  into  my  family.  The  will  of  Heaven  must  be  obeyed, 
whatever  may  be  the  consequences/ 

"  A  sudden  and  mortal  sickness  shot  through  the  heart  of 
Mrs.  Burnham  at  this  announcement.  All  her  previous  fears 
seemed  about  to  be  realized.  Her  husband  loved  another, 
and  that  loved  one  was  about  to  be  introduced  into  her  pre- 
sence, and  to  share  her  home.  All  her  cares  and  toils,  and 
the  deep,  deep  love  she  had  lavished  on  him  had  been  of  no 
avail.  A  fearful,  a  horrible  thought  flashed  into  her  mind 
so  suddenly  and  with  such  distinctness,  that  it  seemed  the 
suggestion  of  another.  Was  it  the  tempting  of  a  fiend  ? 

"  That  afternoon,"  continued  Maria,  "  I  paid  Mrs.  Burn- 
ham  a  visit.  She  received  me  with  great  friendliness,  though 
her  countenance  bore  the  traces  of  great  mental  anguish. 
To  my  inquiries  if  she  was  ill,  she  returned  the  monosyllable 
'  No/  We  had  been  on  terms  of  intimacy  for  some  time, 
and  I  pressed  her  to  tell  me  what  the  matter  was.  At 


A  BTORM  AND  A  CALM.  79 

length  the  floodgates  of  her  soul  opened,  and  she  poured 
forth  a  perfect  storm  of  wrath,  accompanied  with  such  bit- 
ter denunciations  against  the  little  simple  creature  designed 
for  the  second  wife  of  her  husband,  that  I  actually  trembled, 
while  Amy  burst  into  tears,  and  wept  bitterly. 

"  '  Only  to  think — to  thmk  that  he  intends  to  bring  such 
a  silly,  coquettish,  lazy  thing  as  she  is  here,  and  then  to 
insult  me  with  talking  about  her  fine  eyes,  and  her  helpless- 
ness, as  if  I  am  going  to  be  her  slave — her  slave,  indeed  1' 
and  her  countenance  indicated  some  fearful  purpose.  I  soon 
took  leave,  determining  to  watch  the  progress  of  events. 

"The  next  day  Mrs.  Burnham  returned  my  visit.  She 
seemed  cheerful — even  joyous.  I  was  somewhat  surprised 
at  the  change  which  such  a  short  time  had  sufficed  to  bring 
about.  She  laughed  outright.  '  What  is  the  use  of  mak- 
ing fools  of  ourselves  ?;  she  said.  '  My  mind  has  changed 
much  since  yesterday ;  and  I  have  called  to  request  that 
you  will  not  report  anything  I  said  in  reference  to  this  pro- 
jected marriage.  It  might  create  further  difficulties/ 

"  I  assured  her  that  I  would  not,  with  a  feeling  of  pleasure 
that  the  affair  was  likely  to  terminate  so  happily. 

"  The  next  week  we  were  invited  to  the  wedding-feast. 
There  was  a  great  company  present ;  for  Mr.  Burnham  was 
a  noted  man  in  the  Church.  The  apostles  and  elders  were 
all  there — some  with  two  or  three  wives,  and  others  with 
only  one.  My  attention,  however,  was  chiefly  engrossed  by 
the  bride,  and  the  first  Mrs.  Burnham,  who,  it  seemed  to  me, 
were  the  most  dissimilar  beings  in  existence.  The  former 


80  THE  HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

was  a  delicate  little  thing,  with  rather  a  large  head  ;  but 
her  face  was  fairy-like,  her  voice  sweet,  and  she  really 
looked  charming.  All  she  said  was  free  from  effort,  and 
spontaneous  ;  and  she  had  such  a  captivating  gaiety  in  her 
laugh,  that  it  was  fascinating  to  hear  her.  She  bandied 
jests  with  every  one,  and  manife%ted  the  utmost  brilliancy 
and  enjoyment." 

11  And  the  first  Mrs.  Burnham  ?"  I  suggested. 

"  It  would  be  difficult  to  give  you  an  idea  of  her  appear- 
ance. She  was  calm,  yet  rigid  ;  and  it  was  evident  that 
her  features  and  gestures  were  schooled  for  the  occasion. 
Once,  and  once  only,  she  was  thrown  off  her  guard,  and 
then  the  nervous  twitching  of  the  muscles  of  her  mouth 
betrayed  a  degree  of  internal  agony  painful  to  behold. 
There  was  a  gleam,  too,  in  her  eye,  as  it  followed  the 
motions  of  the  bride,  that  filled  me  with  secret  apprehen- 
sions I  cared  not  to  reveal. 

"  The  husband  evidently  wished  the  occasion  to  be  a  joy- 
ous one,  and — between  demonstrations  of  tenderness  for  his 
new  bride,  and  nonsensical  remarks,  designed  to  excite  the 
mirth  of  those  present — acted,  as  I  thought,  excessively 
silly.  One  of  the  elders  breathed  an  extempore  prayer, 
when  cotillions  were  formed,  the  twelve  Apostles  leading  off 
in  the  first  set." 

"  Is  it,  indeed,  a  fact  that  cotillions  are  introduced  with 
prayers  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  It  is  ;  and  the  effect  is  most  ludicrous.  I  could  scarcely 
help  laughing  outright." 


A  MYSTERIOUS  DEATH.  81 

"  A  fitter  subject  for  weeping  !"  I  replied. 

"  Well,  every  one  to  their  mind,"  she  continued.  "  But  I 
could  not  help  thinking  that  both  exercises  were  remarkably 
similar — both  seemed  got  up  for  the  especial  occasion.  The 
new  husband,  in  his  zeal  and  fervor,  quite  outdid  himself — 
balancing  to  this  one,  turning  that  one,  and  then  whirling 
round  his  young  wife  for  a  final  flourish,  till  she  grew  quite 
giddy. 

"  The  first  Mrs.  Burnham  presided  at  the  table.  The 
dinner  was  excellent  and  abundant.  After  eating  heartily, 
the  whole  company  resorted  to  dancing  again,  which  was 
kept  up  with  little  variation  till  late  at  night.  And  the 
next  day  we  were  astounded  by  the  intelligence  that  the 
bride  was  dead  1" 

"  Dead  !     How  did  she  die  ?"  I  ejaculated. 

"  How  did  she  die  ?  How  often  was  that  question  asked  ! 
but  who  could  answer  ?  It  was  all  a  mystery.  It  was  not 
even  known  when  she  died.  An  hour  after  the  company 
dispersed,  she  was  found  by  her  husband  in  the  portico  of 
the  dwelling,  senseless  and  speechless.  A  physician  was 
summoned,  but  the  remedies  came  too  late,  and  before 
morning  she  expired. 

"  We  went  to  the  funeral.  The  husband  seemed  incon- 
solable. The  first  wife  was  rigid  and  indifferent,  though, 
when  she  approached  to  look  at  the  corpse,  I  either  saw  or 
fancied  that  a  momentary  gleam  of  malicious  pleasure  flitted 
over  her  countenance.  Amy,  too,  wept  with  unaccountable 
bitterness.  Ill-natured  people  seemed  disposed  to  suspect 

4* 


82  THE  HUSBAND  IS  UTAH. 

that  all  was  not  right ;  but  their  surmises  never  took  tangi- 
ble form  or  shape,  and  the  affair  was  soon  forgotten,  like 
every  other  nine  days'  wonder." 

11  And  did  Burnham  relinquish  the  idea  of  taking  another 
wife  ?" 

11  Far  from  it.  Before  one  month  had  elapsed,  his  versa- 
tile and  fickle  fancy  had  selected  another.  The  courtship 
was  carried  on  with  all  that  fond  intercourse  usual  where 
no  wife  exists.  The  day  for  the  wedding  was  set,  when  the 
bride  elect  suddenly  sickened  and  died.  People  thought  it 
strange.  The  elders  condoled  with  the  afflicted  brother, 
and  many  of  them  advised  him  to  try  again.19 

"  And  his  wife  " 

"  Carried  herself  as  usual,  though  perhaps  a  close  observer 
might  have  detected  a  greater  degree  of  haughtiness  in  her 
manner,  and  a  cautious  reserve  in  her  conversation,  even 
with  her  most  intimate  friends. 

•*  That  season  was  proverbially  sickly.  Bilious  and  other 
fevers  extensively  prevailed.  Mrs.  Burnham  was  among  the 
first  attacked.  I  was  summoned  to  watch  by  her  bed-side. 
She  was  wildly  delirious,  and  raved  in  a  manner  really 
frightful.  I  shuddered,  listening  to  the  revelations  of  her 
guilt.  She  avowed  herself  a  murderess,  and  called  on  Hea- 
ven to  witness  the  truth  of  what  she  said.  Her  husband* 
stood  by,  livid  as  chalk,  and  trembling  like  an  aspen.  She 
accused  him  of  destroying  her  soul,  by  exposing  her  to  such 
horrible  temptations.  I  never  saw  such  a  death-bed  before. 
May  I  be  mercifully  spared  from  seeing  such  again  !" 


BEATH  OF  MBS.   BUKNHAM.  83 

"She  died,  then?" 

"  She  did  ;  and,  after  what  had  happened,  it  was  a  great 
mercy.  Since  then,  Mr.  Burnham  has  married  six  different 
women,  and  no  doubt  finds  it  a  relief  to  be  without  her." 

"And  Amy" 

"  Ran  off  to  California,  with  a  tourist  old  enough  to  be 
her  father.  But  I  have  heard  that  her  husband  has  become 
rich,  and  that,  taken  upon  the  whole,  she  did  well." 


THE  HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 


CHAPTER  V. 

DIFFERENT   SENTIMENTS POOR   CLASS    OF   MORMONS MISERY 

OF   WIVES ETC. 

I  FIND  that,  even  among  husbands,  the  utmost  diversity 
of  sentiment,  with  regard  to  polygamy,  prevails.  It 
cannot  be  disguised  that  the  whole  system  is  indebted,  for 
support,  to  the  protection  and  countenance  of  the  elders. 
These  monopolize  the  fairest,  most  healthy  women,  leaving 
the  old,  ugly,  and  decrepid  to  be  shared  among  their  follow- 
ers. I  have  known  some  of  the  most  virtuous  and  intelli- 
gent of  these  people  to  be  exceedingly  disgusted  with  what 
they  saw  and  heard,  though  evidently  cautious  not  to  express 
publicly  their  feelings  of  disapprobation.  Slavery  and  poly- 
gamy, both  institutions  of  barbaric  ages  and  countries,  have 
this  in  common,  that  while  increasing  the  luxuries  of  the 
rich,  they  add  to  the  discomforts  and  miseries  of  the  poor. 

A  poor  man — by  which  I  mean  one  dependent  on  his  daily 
labor  for  the  necessaries  of  life — will  generally  find  the 
decent  support  of  one  wife,  and  her  little  brood,  quite 


COMPARISONS  ABE  ODIOUS.  85 

enough  for  his  exertions.  But  poverty  exempts  no  one 
from  the  passions  inherent  to  the  race ;  and  if  a  rich  man 
indulges  himself  by  taking  six  wives,  his  poor  neighbor 
will  imitate  him  as  far  as  possible,  and  probably  take  two, 
though  against  his  better  judgment,  and  fully  aware  that 
his  domestic  happiness  will  be  thereby  destroyed. 

In  conversation  with  an  intelligent  Mormon,  I  inquired 
how  it  happened  that  they  were  so  well  supplied  with  wo- 
men, as  the  proportion  of  the  female  population  to  that  of 
the  males  was  about  as  four  to  one.  He  replied  that  the 
ranks  were  thus  filled  by  the  female  converts  to  Mormonism. 

"  You  would  imply,  then,  that  more  women  than  men 
embrace  your  doctrines  ?"  I  suggested. 

"  A  great  many  more,"  he  replied.    "Women,  in  all  ages, 

have  been  the  most  susceptible  of  truth,  you  know." 

/ 
"  And  of  imposition,  too,"  I  replied. 

"  The  first  believers  and  preachers  of  Christianity  were 
women,"  he  continued,  without  noticing  my  last  remark. 

"And  the  first  convert  to  Mohammedanism  was  a  wo- 
man,"  I  answered. 

"  Your  comparisons  are  odious  and  unjust,"  he  retorted, 
angrily. 

"  The  truth  should  not  be  either,"  I  replied.  "  Women, 
from  their  peculiarly  susceptible  temperaments,  are  ex- 
tremely liable  to  be  charmed  with  novelties.  While  their 
devotional  sentiments  are  more  easily  excited  than  those  of 
the  men,  it  holds,  as  a  general  thing,  that  her  reasoning 
powers  are  much  inferior ;  hence  I  question  whether  she  is 


86  THE  HUSBAND  Iff   UTAH. 

as  capable  of  perceiving  and  appreciating  the  truth  as  are 
the  stronger  sex." 

My  Mormon  friend,  however,  did  not  seem  inclined  to 
discnss  the  subject  further,  and  our  interview  ended  with 
manifest  displeasure  on  his  part. 

Another  with  whom  I  conversed,  considered  this  abund- 
ance of  women  as  a  providential  interposition  in  behalf  of 
;he  saints ;  and  when  I  attempted  to  argue  with  him  on  the 
absurdity  of  such  notions,  he  broke  out  in  a  malediction, 
denouncing  me  as  an  infidel,  Gentile,  and  heathen.  It  is  a 
fact  that  Utah,  as  compared  with  other  portions  of  our 
sountry,  is  disproportionately  supplied  with  women,  and 
many  of  them  excuse  or  advocate  polygamy  for  that  reason. 

"  Suppose,"  they  say,  "  that  only  one  woman  was  married 
to  each  man  ;  then  for  one  married  woman  you  have  three 
or  four  single  ones.  What  is  to  be  done  with  them  ?  Shall 
we  let  them  sink  into  vulgar,  degraded,  and  abandoned 
habits,  as  they  do  in  all  your  large  cities  ?  Shall  their 
young  affections  run  to  waste  ?  Shall  the  State  be  deprived 
of  the  children  they  ought  to  bear  ?  And  last,  not  least, 
must  they  spend  their  lives  in  a  hopeless  celibacy,  because 
certain  legislators  have  deemed  it  expedient  to  restrict  the 
intercourse  of  one  husband  to  that  of  one  wife  ?" 

When  I  remarked  that  I  should  fancy  they  would  be 
happier  single  than  married,  under  such  circumstances, 
"  They  don't  think  so,"  would  always  be  the  answer.  "We 
have  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  wives." 

I  scarcely  think  they  do. 


CONDITION   OF  THE  LABORING  CLASSES.  87 

The  laboring  class  in  Utah  are  not  so  comfortably  pro- 
vided for  as  might  be  wished,  yet  the  question  arises,  Where, 
in  the  wide  world,  is  not  such  the  case  ?  In  civilized, 
Christianized,  and  enlightened  London,  to  marry  two  wives 
is  a  crime  considered  worthy  of  transportation,  though 
to  let  a  next-door  neighbor  starve,  yourself  rolling  in  luxury 
meanwhile,  elicits  no  reproach.  New- York,  the  great,  the 
spacious,  the  commercial,  has  its  free  schools  and  churches, 
side  by  side  with  dens  of  squalid  poverty  and  haunts  of 
crime.  Where,  I  say,  are  the  comforts  of  the  laboring 
classes  duly  considered,  or  where  do  they  take  the  position 
in  society  they  are  justly  entitled  to  ?  It  would  be  a  hard 
thing  to  tell. 

As  a  general  thing,  however,  labor  is  more  respected  in 
Zion,  than  in  any  other  city  which  I  have  visited ;  and 
laboring  people  do  not  form,  as  elsewhere,  a  separate  and 
distinct  class.  This  may  be  chiefly  owing  to  the  discordant 
elements  of  which  society  is  composed,  and  which  require 
mixture  and  fusion  before  the  scum  can  rise  to  the  top,  or 
the  dregs  settle  to  the  bottom.  Yet  I  am  inclined  to  think 
that  it  originates  in  the  policy  of  the  Mormon  leaders ;  and, 
without  looking  further,  we  can  find  very  good  reasons  why 
they  should  wish  to  have  it  so.  Though  accused  of  laziness 
themselves,  the  Mormon  elders  are  "  loud  "  against  its  being 
practised  by  others,  and  take  every  occasion  to  enforce  the 
duty  and  necessity  of  industry.  Of  course,  there  is  a  class 
of  loafers,  but  these  are  mostly  outsiders,  visitors,  and 
Gentiles. 


88  THE  HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

Most  of  the  mechanics,  small  farmers,  and  day-laborers, 
have  each  two  or  three  wives.  Some  of  these  women  are 
very  industrious,  though  others  are  not.  Indeed,  I  thought 
laziness  more  prevalent  among  them  than  any  other  class. 
Perhaps  that  is  owing  to  polygamy — perhaps  to  natural  dis- 
position. I  do  not  attempt  to  decide.  But  in  this  hetero- 
geneous assemblage  from  different  parts  of  the  earth,  a 
great  diversity  of  character  necessarily  exists.  In  walking 
out,  one  morning,  I  came  unexpectedly  to  a  miserable 
shanty,  and  called,  to  rest  and  look  around.  It  was  occiv 
pied  by  four  women,  all  the  wives  of  one  man.  One  of 
them  was  weaving  a  kind  of  coarse  cloth,  and  the-  others 
did  not  seem  to  have  anything  to  do.  I  ascertained  that 
the  husband  was  a  blacksmith,  who  had  emigrated  from 
Cayuga  county,  in  the  State  of  New-York,  but  a  few  years 
previous.  One  wife  only  had  emigrated  with  him.  He 
found  the  others  subsequent  to  his  arrival.  They  were 
aware  of  his  condition,  and  that  nothing  better  than  a 
hovel  could  be  afforded  them,  yet  each  one  preferred  shar- 
ing this  with  the  others  and  a  husband,  to  living  in  celibacy. 
I  inquired  if  the  husband  followed  his  trade,  and  received  a 
negative  answer. 

"  Why  not  ?" 

"  No  particular  reason,  that  I  know  of,  except  that  he 
prefers  to  hunt  and  fish." 

"  Prefers  to  hunt  and  fish,  does  he  ?  And  yet  I  should 
suppose  that  a  rather  precarious  manner  of  gaining  a  liveli- 
hood." 


A  CHARACTER.  89 

"  Yon  would,  ha  ?  We  live  as  well  as  our  neighbors, 
sir — poor  people,  I  mean — yet,  if  you  have  a  trifle  to  give 
me,  I  should  thank  you,  sir — I  should,  indeed  1" 

I  tossed  a  twenty-five  cent  piece  into  her  lap,  and  bade 
her  "  good-day." 

My  curiosity  was  excited  to  look  further.  The  cabins 
which  I  entered  were  usually  occupied  by  two  or  three,  and 
sometimes  six  or  seven,  very  dirty  women,  and  a  group  of 
ragged,  squalid,  miserable-looking  children.  There  was  but 
one  room  and  loft  to  each  cabin,  or,  where  there  were  two 
rooms,  they  were  occupied  by  two  families.  They  were  very 
destitute  of  furniture,  and  without  any  ground  floor.  There 
was  no  glass  in  the  windows  ;  and  the  whole  scene  was  com- 
fortless in  the  extreme.  I  encountered  one  old  fellow  sitting 
near  the  entrance  of  a  covered  wagon-body,  which  had  been 
removed  from  the  wheels.  His  countenance  had  a  simple, 
idiotic  expression  ;  and  I  approached,  accosting  him  with 
the  inquiry  of,  "  What  are  you  doing  there,  uncle  ?" 

"  Nothing  at  all,"  he  answered.  "  This  is  my  house" — 
pointing  to  the  wagon,  with  ineffable  self-satisfaction. 

"  Your  house  !"  I  reiterated,  in  great  surprise. 

"To  be  sure  ;  and  a  very  good  one  it  is,"  he  answered. 
"  I  slept  in  it  all  last  winter." 

"  Didn't  you  suffer  with  the  cold  ?" 

"  Not  much.     I  had  a  buffalo." 

"  Have  you  any  family  ?"  I  questioned. 

"  None  at  all,"  he  answered,  but  avowed  his  determina- 
tion to  marry  at  least  three  women  when  his  prospects 


90  THE  HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

brightened  a  little.  Thinking  this  idea  to  be  a  good  one,  I 
encouraged  him  in  it,  and  passed  on.  Yet  these  were  soli* 
tarj  cases. 

Entering  a  small  cabin  by  the  road-side,  I  found '  two 
women,  one  man,  and  three  or  four  children.  The  house 
and  its  furniture  looked  very  well ;  so  did  the  women  and 
children  ;  but  a  large  bandage  was  bound  over  the  face  and 
one  eye  of  the  man,  that  gave  him  a  grotesque  appearance. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  your  face,  friend  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  Burnt  it,"  he  answered,  gruffly. 

The  women  looked  at  each  other  with  ill-concealed  merri- 
ment, while  the  husband  rose  and  went  out. 

"  I  've  a  great  mind  to  tell  the  stranger  how  it  hap- 
pened," said  one. 

"  Do,"  answered  the  other. 

"  I  should  like  to  know,  certainly,"  I  replied. 

"Well,"  resumed  the  first  speaker,  "our  husband  is  a 
little  queer  sometimes." 

"  He  always  is,"  suggested  the  other. 

"  For  three  or  four  years,  however,  when  anything  occur- 
red to  rumple  him,  he  would  refuse  to  go  to  bed,  and  actu- 
ally sit  up  the  whole  night,  dozing  away  his  time  hi  the 
rocking-chair." 

"  Did  he  suppose  that  plagued  any  one  but  himself  ?" 

"  He  knew  very  well  that  it  plagued  me  ;  but  often  I  was 
as  innocent  as  you  were  of  giving  him  cause  for  offence.  If 
the  pigs  got  into  the  yard,  he  was  mad  about  it,  and 
wouldn't  go  to  bed.  If  I  found  a  word  of  fault  with  any 


A   SULLEN   HUSBAND.  91 

of  his  arrangements,  the  next  thing  was,  he  wouldn't  go  to 
bed.  Sometimes,  by  coaxing  and  flattery,  I  would  succeed 
in  getting  him  off ;  but  I  grew  tired  of  this,  and  concluded 
to  let  him  set  up  till  he  got  enough  of  it.  Yesterday,  he 
got  sullen,  as  usual.  Neither  of  us  said  a  word,  or  took 
any  notice  of  him.  When  bed-time  came,  we  retired,  leav- 
ing him  to  his  meditations.  In  the  night  we  were  awakened 
by  a  loud  shriek.  We  fancied  what  had  happened,  but 
determined  not  to  rise  or  go  to  his  assistance,  unless  he 
requested  it.  We  heard  him  going  about  the  house,  but  he 
said  nothing  to  us,  and  this  morning  his  face  was  bound  up, 
as  you  see.  I  suppose  he  got  to  sleep,  and  fell  against  the 
stove." 

"  It  will  probably  be  a  lesson  to  him,"  I  said,  though  I 
could  scarcely  speak  for  laughing. 

"  I  should  think  so,"  she  replied. 

These  women  did  not  seem  miserable.  I  have  seen  few 
that  did.  They  have  probably  become  accustomed  to  the 
prevailing  state  of  things  ;  and  custom,  it  is  said,  is  second 
nature.  I  believe  that  the  manifestation  of  deep  feeling,  by 
the  wife,  when  her  husband  takes  his  second  partner,  is 
exceedingly  rare.  Are  they  restrained  by  fear,  or  is  it 
actual  indifference,  or  do  both  these  feelings  come  in  for  a 
share  ? 

Maria  Underwood,  to  whom  I  mentioned  the  subject, 
declared  that  the  greater  part,  though  outwardly  calm, 
were  inwardly  dying  with  grief,  vexation,  and  jealousy,  and 
attributed  to  polygamy  all  the  shiftlessness  and  laziness 


92  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

observable  in  certain  quarters.  I  should  doubtless  have 
received  the  same  impression,  had  I  not  been  aware  that 
similar  habits  existed  among  a  certain  class  where  polygamy 
was  never  tolerated.  Yet  there  can  be  no  doubt,  I  think, 
that  it  operates  unfavorably  on  the  mind  of  the  wife,  by 
removing  the  great  stimulus  to  the  proper  discharge  of  her 
family  duties. 

St.  Paul,  a  wise  man,  and  accurate  observer  of  human 
nature,  thus  remarks  :  "  The  married  woman  careth  for  the 
things  of  the  world,  how  she  may  please  her  husband."  And 
there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  chief  stimulus  to  exertion 
in  the  female  mind  is  the  idea  of  pleasing  the  husband. 
"  What  will  he  say  ? — How  will  he  like  it  ? — Will  it  suit 
him  ?" — are  the  thoughts  constantly  recurring  to  her  mind, 
though,  when  discouraged  by  his  indifference,  she  becomes 
weary,  careless,  and  aimless.  Maria  Underwood  informed 
me  of  two  or  three  cases  where  the  first  wife  had  actually 
poisoned  or  drowned  herself  on  the  advent  of  the  second, 
though  the  second  cared  little  or  nothing  when  the  third 
was  taken. 

"  Mr.  Griscom  formerly  resided  in  New-Jersey,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  yet  few  thought  him 
to  be  a  man  of  much  principle,  and  many  openly  questioned 
his  honesty.  But  he  was  wealthy,  and  wealth  is  respecta- 
ble. .Consequently  his  conversion  to  Mormonism  made  a 
decided  sensation — a  sort  of  nine  days7  wonder — in  his 
native  village.  Mrs.  Griscom  had  riches  in  her  own  right, 
but  the  scheming  husband  had  contrived  to  get  them  all  in 


AH  EX-PRESBYTERIAN.  93 

his  possession,  thus  leaving  her  penniless  for  voluntary  and 
separate  support.  When  he  proposed  to  unite  with  the 
Mormons,  and  emigrate,  her  friends  decidedly  objected  to 
her  accompanying  him.  To  this  he  manifested  entire  indif- 
ference, telling  her  to  go  or  stay,  whichever  she  preferred  ; 
but  when  she  mentioned  her  property,  he  told  her  plainly 
that  he  should  not  voluntarily  relinquish  one  cent,  and  that 
the  law,  under  the  circumstances,  would  give  her  nothing. 
Not  wishing  to  become  a  burden  to  her  friends,  she  deter- 
mined to  remain  with  him. 

"  After  innumerable  difficulties  and  dangers,  they  reached 
Deseret,  with  a  company  of  the  first  settlers.  The  country 
was  wild,  and  inhabited  by  Indians  ;  but  one  thing  was  in 
their  favor — they  had  the  choice  of  pleasant  localities. 

"  Mr.  Griscom  made  immediate  preparations  for  extensive 
grazing.  He  justly  concluded  that  milk,  butter,  and  cheese 
would  be  in  extensive  demand  ;  and,  to  make  sure  of 
"  help,"  in  the  domestic  department,  he  hired  a  great,  red- 
faced,  freckled,  and  blowzy  German  girl,  who  immediately 
became  a  candidate  for  matrimonial  honors.  Most  men  are 
vain,  and  Mr.  Griscom  was  manifestly  flattered  by  her 
endearments  and  attentions,  while  his  poor  wife  looked  on 
in  insufferable  agony. 

11 A  year  elapsed,  and  the  consequence  of  their  intimacy 
became  manifest.  Mr.  Griscom  was  a  proud  man,  and  she 
was  not  exactly  such  a  woman  as  he  Would  have  selected, 
even  for  his  second  wife.  But  there  was  no  alternative  ; 
she  refused  to  leave  the  house,  and  in  this  determination  the 


94:  THE  HUSBAND  IN  tTTAH. 

elders  encouraged  her.  Finally — and,  it  may  be,  foi  the 
sake  of  his  child — his  reluctance  was  overcome.  They 
were  married  in  the  evening  ;  before  morning  she  became 
a*mother.  On  this  occasion,  the  absence  of  the  first  Mrs. 
Griscom  was  observable.  Inquiries  were  made,  but  she 
could  not  be  found.  Two  days  elapsed,  still  she  came  not. 
A  week  went  by,  when  some  hunters  discovered  the  body  of 
a  woman  floating  in  the  thermal  spring.  It  was  soon  ascer- 
tained to  be  that  of  Mrs.  Griscom.  The  poor  lady,  whose 
prospects  of  life  were  once  fair  and  bright,  had  been 
reduced  to  the  last  great  extremity  of  committing  suicide." 

"  And  how  did  he  get  along  with  his  German  wife  ?"  I 
asked. 

"  Extremely  bad,"  she  replied.  "  His  domestic  establish- 
ment embraces  at  this  time  six  or  seven  more,  but  they  are 
little  better  than  slaves.  He  appoints  their  daily  tasks,  and 
when  they  fail  in  the  performance,  punishes  them. 

"  For  my  own  part,"  continued  Maria,  introducing  the 
subject  which  I  had  longed  to  hear  her  touch  upon — "  for 
my  own  part,  I  didn't  lay  it  to  heart  like  some  women 
would.  Of  course,  I  worried  a  little  at  first,  but  soon  con- 
cluded it  was  no  use  to  make  a  fool  of  myself.  If  Under- 
wood had  grown  tired  of  me,  and  "thought  another  would 
euit  him  better,  why,  let  him  try  it.  I  was  never  much 
given  to  sentimentality.  I  always  considered  marriage  to 
be  of  all  things  most  exceedingly  practical.  I  could  very 
well  be  contented  with  beef,  bread,  and  butter,  with  or  with- 
out the  husband.  As  the  formation  of  matrimonial  con- 


95 

nections  with  another  would  not  cancel  his  obligations  to 
me,  I  raised  no  objections,  but  kept  all  the  time  thinking, 
with  a  slight  variation,  of  the  old  song  ; 

" '  I  think  light  of  him  as  he  can  think  of  me, 

Not  a  fig  for  an  old  man  who  marries  two  or  three.' 

"  After  the  second  wife  came  here,  I  determined  to  take 
matters  easy,  and  I  have  done  so." 

"  And  the  others  have  imitated  your  example,  I  guess." 

"  Yes ;  we  don't  all  perform  the  labor  that  onfc  indus- 
trious woman  would." 

Another  woman  of  intelligence  and  strict  propriety  in- 
formed me  that  the  general  tendency  of  polygamy  was  to 
make  husbands  either  dupes  or  despots.  If  they  were  of 
an  easy  and  moderate  disposition,  their  domestic  concerns 
would  be  neglected,  and  the  utmost  disorder,  waste,  and 
discomfort  prevail — while,"  on  the  other  hand,  if  they  could 
and  would  bring  themselves  to  treat  their  wives  like  so 
many  servants,  they  might  get  along  tolerably  well,  though 
the  happiness  usually  experienced  where  one  wife  received 
all  the  affection  and  care  of  her  lord,  was  out  of  the  ques- 
tion. Many  wives,  she  thought,  brought  themselves  into  a 
Rtate  of  apathetic  indifference,  but  then  they  had  little 
affection  and  no  respect  for  their  husbands,  and  generally 
managed  to  make  them  miserable. 

Her  husband,  she  continued,  had  married  another  wife 
soon  after  their  arrival  in  Zion,  and  they  managed  to  get 


96  THE   HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

along  comfortably,  and  with  little  quarreling — quarreling 
she  always  detested — but,  as  for  taking  care  of  his  house  or 
clothes  since,  she  hadn't  done  it,  and  didn't  design  to  do  it. 
She  believed  most  men  found  it  more  difficult  to  get  a  but- 
ton sewed  on  a  shirt,  where  their  houses  were  filled  with 
wives,  than  to  have  the  whole  shirt  made  where  there  was 
only  one. 

"  And  are  husbands  often  despotic  ?  That  is,  do  they 
often  punish  their  wives,  to  enforce  labor  and  obedience  ?" 

Well,  she  rather  thought  not.  She  did  not  suppose  it 
was  very  common,  though  the  Germans  and  other  foreigners 
had  little  mercy  on  their  women.  One  German  that  she 
knew,  accustomed  his  wives  to  working  in  the  fields,  himself 
standing  by,  with  a  whip  in  his  hand,  and  looking  for  all  the 
world  like  a  Southern  slavedriver.  When  reproved  for  such 
an  exhibition  of  unmanliness,  he  excused  the  matter  by  say- 
ing that  it  was  the  custom  in  Germany,  and  he  didn't  see 
why  the  women  were  better  here  than  there. 

"  But  is  there  no  law  to  bring  husbands  to  account  for 
such  brutality  ?" 

She  guessed  not ;  had  never  heard  of  such  a  thing  ;  was 
pretty  certain  there  was  not.  The  operating  laws  of  the 
Territory  were  all  founded  on  the  code  of  Mormon  ;  and 
husbands,  according  to  that  precious  document,  could  do  no 
wrong.  „ 

"  Then  the  safety  of  the  wife,  or  wives,  depends  altogether 
on  the  naturally  humane  disposition  of  the  husband.  If  ha 


ILL-TKEATMENT  OF  WIYES.  97 

chooses  to  punish  her,  or  make  her  a  slave,  he  can  do  it 
with  absolute  impunity,  and  that,  too,  within  a  country 
famed  for  its  enlightened  and  liberal  institutions." 

I  had  frequently  observed  that  most  Mormon  women  were 
cautious  in  the  expression  of  sentiments  adverse  to  the  pre- 
vailing customs,  and,  before  giving  information  on  such 
points,  required  a  promise  of  secrecy.  To  account  for  this, 
I  subsequently  learned  that  some  of  the  more  orthodox 
husbands  chastised  their  wives  for  heresy — meaning -by  this, 
the  manifestation  of  displeasure  or  opposition  to  Mormon 
institutions  in  the  presence  of  Gentiles. 

This  brutality  on  the  part  of  husbands,  however,  cannot 
be  justly  attributed  to  polygamy.  Husbands,  uneducated, 
low,  vicious,  and  sensual,  have  manifested  the  same  tempers 
in  the  monogamous  state.  The  ill-treatment  of  wives  is  a 
common  topic  of  newspaper  and  neighborhood  gossip,  and 
of  such  frequent  occurrence  that  no  one  wonders  to  hear  or 
read  of  it.  Even  in  our  Christianized  and  enlightened 
State,  wives  are  butchered,  are  poisoned,  are  subjected  to 
all  kinds  of  brutality,  that  would  sicken  one's  heart  to  hear 
of,  if  perpetrated  in  a  distant  country. 

I  have  never  yet  heard  of  one  instance  where  a  Mormon 
husband  has  actually  and  in  cold  blood  murdered  his  wife. 
Would  to  Heaven  I  could  say  the  same  of  those  who  are 
not  Mormons  I(e.) 

But  there  is  a  phase  of  polygamy  which  I  have  not 
noticed  yet,  and  which  seems  really  cruel,  though  the  mono- 
gamous system  is  Tiot  exempt  from  the  same  or  similar  evils. 

5 


98  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH 

I  encountered,  one  morning,  in  my  walk,  a  poor  woman, 
middle-aged,  and  faded,  through  hardship  and  exposure. 
She  complained  that  her  husband  had  deserted  her  and  her 
children  ;  that  her  house  was  cold,  open,  and  exceedingly 
uncomfortable  ;  that  she  had  neither  food,  fuel,  nor  neces- 
sary clothing,  though  her  lord  resided  with  a  younger  and 
fairer  wife,  in  a  sumptuous  mansion,  partaking  all  the  plea- 
sures and  luxuries  of  life. 

Upon  inquiry,  I  found  that  provision  for  the  wife  was 
optional  with  the  husband,  and  that  if  he  chose  to  neglect 
or  abandon  her,  she  had  no  legal  remedy. 


99 


CHAPTER  VI. 


AN  ENGLISHMAN'S  OPINION-T-ENGLISH  EMIGRANTS — THEIR 
CHARACTER — ETC. 

ii  "TTOURS    is    certainly   a  most   remarkable   country," 
JL   remarked  an  Englishman,  who  had  been  attached 
to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  of  traders — "  a  most  remark- 
able country.     Don't  you  think  so  ?" 

I  replied  that  few  Americans  would  be  inclined  to  dis- 
pute it. 

."In  looking  at  your  system  of  government,  and  the  insti- 
tutions which  flourish  beneath  it,  I  am  strongly  reminded  of 
the  pseudo-philosopher  whom  Marryatt  has  rendered  famous, 
and  who  contended  that  everything  going  on  was  simply  a 
rehearsal  of  past  events." 

"  Why  so  ?"  I  queried. 

"  Because  you  would  probably  contend  that  your  country 
has  made  the  farthest  advance  in  liberal  and  enlightened 
institutions — which  I  cannot  deny — but  where  has  it  brought 
you  ?  Right  back  to  the  patriarchal  ages — the  practice  of 
polygamy,  the  encouragement  of  slavery.  Who,  after  this, 


100  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

will  contend  for  the  progress  of  the  race,  when  the  extreme 
of  civilization  merges  itself  in  barbaric  practices  1" 
"  But  we  shall  probably  get  clear  of  both." 
"  Far  from  it.  Slavery  has  become  already  too  deeply 
incorporated  with  your  social  and  political  system,  and 
polygamy  soon  will  be.  Even  now  I  doubt  the  ability  of 
your  government  to  get  rid  of  it.  What  will  be  the  result 
when  Utah  desires  admission  into  the  Union  as  a  State  ? 
She  can  scarcely  be  refused,  because  your  Congress  have 
no  right  to  interfere  with  the  domestic  regulations  of  the 
States  ;  and  if  she  is  received,  and  the  practice  of  polygamy 
tolerated  in  her  case,  who  shall  decide  that  in  course  of 
tune  it  may  not  become  general  ?" 

"  I  cannot  believe  such  a  thing  possible.  You  think  too 
meanly  of  us.  Our  Doctors  of  Divinity,  philosophers,  and 
strong-minded  women  would  all  be  adverse  to  such  a  state 
of  things." 

"  And  yet  how  powerless  are  these  when  acting  against 
the  inexorable  law  of  destiny,  or  the  equally  invincible  bias 
of  human  nature  I" 

"You  are  not  a  believer  in  human  progress  ?" 
"  I  am  not,"  he  replied.  "  I  look  upon  that  doctrine  as 
dangerous  and  deceitful.  The  history  of  the  world  dis- 
proves it.  Men,  systems  and  opinions  change,  but  never 
advance.  Some  virtues  are  most  fashionable  in  one  age, 
and  some  in  another.  Of  course,  those  that  are  most 
fashionable  will  be  most  practised.  It  is  just  so  with  vices. 
The  ancients  were  addicted  to  some  of  which  we  are  happily 


AN  ENGLISHMAN'S  OPINION.  10 1 

innocent,  while  we  are  guilty  of  many  that  they  never  tol- 
erated— and  thus,  in  the  words  of  the  song, 

"  'Round  and  round  we  run.'" 

"  I  don't  clearly  understand  you,"  I  said,  and,  in  truth,  I 
did  not. 

"  Humanity  moves  in  cycles,  or,  more  properly,  circles," 
he  continued.  "We  who  stand  on  one  side,  necessarily 
occupy  a  different  position  from  the  ancients,  who  were  on 
the  other  side,  though  on  a  level  with  them.  They  had  a 
class  of  ideas,  of  inventions,  and  opinions,  precisely  adapted 
to  their  tastes  and  wants  ;  and  we  have  another  class,  differ- 
ent, indeed,  but  no  better,  and  no  more  wisely  accommo- 
dated to  our  desires.  We  assume  to  pity  their  ignorance, 
and  they  would  have  as  certainly  detested  our  folly.  Here, 
in  your  age  and  nation,  we  see  mankind  coming  directly 
back  to  the  practices  of  the  patriarchs.  What  a  solution 
to  the  great  question  of  ages,  whether  or  riot  the  race  was 
susceptible  of  indefinite  perfectibility  1" 

Not  caring  to  discuss  a  question  so  purely  theoretical,  I 
left  the  Englishman  to  speculate  on  the  incongruities  of  our 
people  and  government,  and  sauntered  into  the  streets. 
The  Mormon  missionaries  seem  to  have  driven  a  smart  busi- 
ness in  England,  making  converts  and  procuring  emigrants. 
All  classes  of  the  English  people  are  represented  in  Utah, 
with  the  exception  of  the  highest  aristocracy  and  clergymen 
of  the  Established  Church.  Some  of  them  are  intelligent 
and  refined,  but  others  are  mean,  selfish,  arrogant,  and  ill 


102  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

bred — regular,  downright  John  Bulls.  Their  general  treat* 
Hient  of  women  was  rude,  discourteous,  and  boorish.  If  a 
woman  met  one  of  them  on  a  bridge,  or  at  the  street- 
crossings,  she  must  turn  and  go  back,  giving  him  the  way, 
at  the  risk  of  being  thrust  into  the  mud  and  water.  In 
vehicles  or  churches,  they  always  usurp  and  keep  the  best 
places.  At  the  table,  they  rudely  appropriate  the  most 
dainty  pieces  of  vegetables  or  game.  They  seem  to  have 
no  appreciation  of  any  one's  comfort  but  their  own,  and  are 
quite  as  deficient  of  artificial  politeness  as  of  natural  kind- 
ness of  heart.  I  did  not  wonder  that  such  fellows  were 
polygamists  in  principle,  though  I  really  did  wonder  how 
they  were  ever  enabled  to  practise  it,  as  it  does,  or  ought 
to,  take  two  to  make  a  bargain. 


ENGLISH    EMIGRANT   MORMONS//.) 

About  twenty  miles  from  Zion,  near  an  outlet  of  the 
Great  Salt  Lake,  a  company  of  English  emigrant  Mormons 
had  squatted  down,  and  I  determined  one  day  to  make  them 
a  visit.  Informing  Maria  Underwood  of  my  intention,  she 
attempted  to  dissuade  me,  saying  that  she  feared  I  would 
meet  rough  treatment. 

"  Why  so  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  Because  they  will  think  you  a  spy,  or  something  of  that 
character,"  she  replied. 

"  Are  they  then  so  afraid  of  strangers  ?"  I  questioned. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  what  is  the  matter  with  them  ;  but 


A    CALL    ON   BROTHER   WELLS.  103 

they  are  singular,  and  have  such  strange  notions,  and  are  so 
insolent  and  impertinent,  that  I  shouldn't  like  to  trust  myself 
among  them." 

"  If  that  is  all,  it  is  rather  an  inducement  to  go,"  I 
replied,  and  accordingly  determined  to  start  the  next  morn- 
ing. I  was  up  early,  ate  my  breakfast  with  a  good  appe- 
tite, and,  being  abundantly  supplied  with  cakes  by  Maria, 
took  my  gun  and  set  off  across  the  plain.  Though  it  was 
rather  the  wrong  season  for  game,  I  congratulated  myself 
with  the  idea  that  my  appearance  among  them  would  be 
somewhat  excusable  on  the  plea  of  hunting.  The  morning 
was  beautiful,  the  breezes  fresh  from  the  mountains,  and 
the  whole  scenery  delightful.  I  pressed  rapidly  forward, 
but  before  five  miles  had  been  passed  over,  began  to  regret 
that  I  had  undertaken  such  a  journey  on  foot.  Fortunately 
the  residence  of  brother  Wells  was  near.  This  man  was  a 
very  good  Mormon,  had  four  wives,  and,  what  was  of  infi- 
nitely more  interest  tc  me,  owned  several  valuable  horses. 
Of  course,  I  did  not  wish  to  buy,  but  to  hire  one  for  a  day 
or  two.  As  I  approached  his  dwelling,  two  or  three  dogs 
ran  out  of  their  kennel,  barking  and  yelping  ;  and  presently 
a  large  aldermanic-looking  individual  came  to  the  door,  and, 
seeing  me  advance,  instantly  came  out  of  the  house,  and 
withdrew  around  the  corner.  I  followed  him.  He  was 
standing  near  a  small  out-house,  evidently  awaiting  my' 
approach.  As  I  passed  around  the  dwelling,  I  heard  evi- 
dences that  hot  work  was  going  on  within.  Children  were 
screaming,  women  scolding,  and  abusing  each  other  in  the 


THE   HUSBAND   IN  UTAH. 

most  yulgar  language.  The  man  looked  worried,  and  half 
frightened.  I  didn't  wonder  why  ;  for  the  horrible  discord 
grew  louder  and. louder,  and  I  could  hear  to  distinguish  the 
profane  and  obscene  words. 

"  Have  I  the  pleasure  of  addressing  Mr.  Wells  ? "  i 
inquired  ;  but  the  noise  from  the  house  completely  drowned 
my  voice. 

"  Sir  ?"  he  said,  coming  nearer,  and  looking  towards  tho 
window,  which  was  literally  filled  with  heads. 

"  Have  I  the  pleasure  of  addressing  Mr.  Wells  ?"  I 
repeated,  making  my  best  bow. 

"  Yes  ;  that  is  my  name.     Yes" — advancing  still  nearer. 

There  was  a  momentary  pause  in  the  domestic  tempest — 
curiosity  connected  with  my  appearance  and  business,  over- 
coming anger  for  the  time  being.  I  took  advantage  of  the 
silence  to  make  known  my  errand  with  as  little  peroration  as 
possible. 

"  I  should  like  to  hire  a  horse  for  a  day  or  two.  Could 
you  accommodate  me  with  one  \n 

"To  be  sure  he  couldn't  1"  screamed  a  voice  from  the 
window.  "  Do  you  suppose  that  he  keeps  horses  for  tht 
like  of  you  tn 

Brother  Wells'  face  flushed,  and  he  made  a  gesture  of 
impatience.  I  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  voice.  A 
large,  masculine-looking  woman  had  thrown  up  the  sash, 
and,  leaning  through  the  aperture,  regarded  me  with  an 
expression  of  low  cunning  positively  repulsive.  I  neither 
bowed  nor  spoke  to  her,  but  turned  again  to  the  husband. 


BROTHER  WELLS'  WIVES.  105 

"  Could  you  accommodate  me  with  a  horse  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Begone  !  you  vile  dog's  whelp,  you  1  Begone  !  I  say. 
You  want  to  steal  the  horse.  You'll  run  away  with  him. 
You'll  never  bring  him  back.  You'll n 

11  Sally  !  Sally  1"  interposed  Wells,  approaching  the  win- 
dow. "  Go  in  1  Go  in,  and  be  a  good  girl  1  I'll  give  you 
some  money." 

This  woman  was  the  complete  picture  of  a  termagant. 
Her  features  large,  coarse,  and  flushed  with  anger  ;»  her 
uncombed  hair — red  in  color,  and  standing  upright — and 
her  whole  appearance,  unpleasantly  suggestive  of  shrewish- 
ness and  ill-humor.  She  might  probably  have  been  some- 
what mollified  by  the  promise  of  money,  had  not  a  rival  at 
that  moment  appeared  and  put  in  her  claim  :  "You  pro- 
mised to  give  the  next  money  that  you  got  to  me.  You 
know  you  did  !  And  I'll  have  it,  too  !  So  I  will  I" 

The  last  speaker  presented  an  exact  contrast  to  the  other. 
She  was  little,  spare,  and  withered,  with  a  countenance  on 
which  vixen  was  plainly  stamped.  She  spoke  remarkably 
fluent,  and  all  her  gestures  manifested  a  corresponding 
agility.  The  first  one  turned  towards  her  with  an  expres- 
sion of  intense  hatred,  but  she  responded  to  the  glance  with 
a  more  malignant  scowl. 

"  Now,  do  go  in,  while  I  talk  with  the  gentleman,"  said 
the  husband,  coaxingly.  "  I  will  divide  the  money  between 
you." 

"  You  won't  do  any  such  thing  !  She  shan't  have  the 
first  red  cent  1"  screamed  the  vixen. 

5* 


106  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

"  I  will  ! — that  I  will  !"  yelled  the  other  ;  and  she  made 
a  plunge  at  her  antagonist. 

I  expected  to  *ee  the  husband  rush  in,  to  put  an  end  to 
the  melee,  but  he  never  stirred. 

"  Those  women  are  fighting,  sir.  They  will  kill  each 
other  1"  I  said,  with  real  concern. 

"  I  wish  in  my  soul  they  would  !"  he  replied.  "  It  would 
to  me  be  a  happy  riddance  of  bad  luggage.  It  would, 
indeed  !  They  are  the  torment  of  my  life — always  mad 
and  quarreling,  sir." 

"  You  forget  my  errand,"  I  interposed.  "  Can  I  have  the 
horse  ?" 

"  Guess  you  can,"  he  said.     "  You  will  bring  him  back, 
of  course,  and  not  override  or  otherwise  injure  him  ?" 
.  "  I  will  take  good  care  of  the  horse,"  I  replied  ;.  "and 
return  him  safe  and  sound." 

I  was  obliged  to  raise  my  voice  to  a  pretty  loud  key,  as 
the  tumult  from  the  house  effectually  precluded  hearing 
common  conversation. 

"  This  way,"  said  Mr.  Wells.     "  This  way,  sir." 

I  followed,  glad  to  escape  the  uproar.  He  led  me  half 
way  down  the  side  of  a  small  hill,  to  a  well-built  adobe 
stable,  in  which  several  noble  animals  were  standing.  The 
master  entered,  and  spoke  to  them  in  a  pleasant  voice. 
They  recognized  him  with  a  low  neigh.  Surely  this  man 
cannot  be  utterly  depraved,  I  thought — an  affection  for 
dumb  animals  having  always  seemed  to  me  as  inherent  to  a 
noble  spirit. 


JOUKNEY  TO   SALT  LAKE.  107 

"  I  keep  my  horses  stabled,"  lie  said,  addressing  me  while 
preparing  to  adjust  the  saddle.  "  The  flies  plague  them  so 
in  the  field,  they  are  very  fond  of  the  shelter.  Nancy, 
here,"  he  continued,  "  has  much  the  easiest  gait.  Steady, 
steady,  girl  I" 

The  mare  seemed  overflowing  with  an  exuberance  of 
animal  spirits. 

"  So  you  are  going  to  that  English  settlement,"  he 
remarked.  "  Well,  they  are  rough  customers,  but  take 
good  care  of  the  mare." 

"Certainly,  I  will  do  that." 

He  led  her  out.  I  paid  him,  in  advance,  the  hire  for  a 
couple  of  days  ;  and,  vaulting  into  the  saddle,  bade  him 
"  good-day,"  and  departed. 

It  was  now  near  noon,  and  the  hot  rays  of  the  summer 
sun  were  pouring  down  on  the  plain,  which  offered  no  con- 
venient shade.  I  took  the  main  road  to  Salt  Lake,  that 
leads  over  several  inequalities  of  ground,  through  a  literal 
thicket  of  saline  plants,  which  continually  increased  in  size, 
abundance,  and  beauty.  At  length  we  came  to  several 
miry  depressions,  strongly  impregnated  with  salaeratus,  and 
two  or  three  large  ponds,  filled  with  countless  wild  fowl, 
which  rose  screaming  into  the  air.  I  took  aim,  and  fired. 
Three  fell,  of  which  I  obtained  two. 

Antelope  Island,  in  the  Salt  Lake,  was  distinctly  visible, 
rearing  its  mountain  form  before  me,  and,  though  I  had 
been  approaching  it  for  hours,  seeming  no  nearer.  Then, 
however,  its  outlines  became  more  boldly  relieved  against 


108  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

the  sky,  and  the  rocks,  ravines,  and  inequalities  of  its  sur- 
face assumed  a  shape  and  distinctness.  Here,  also,  the  road 
forked — one  branch  leading  directly  to  the  lake,  and  the 
other  bearing  off  to  the  southward.  I  took  the  southern 
track,  leaving  the  lake,  of  which  I  had  just  obtained  a 
glimpse  at  my  right  hand.  I  paused  for  some  time,  to  take 
in  a  view  of  the  scenery,  it  was  so  wonderfully  sublime, 
grand,  and  impressive.  The  prospect  to  the  north  was 
uninterrupted  for  a  great  distance,  but,  stretching  away 
southward,  the  huge  Alps  of  the  Western  World  towered  hi 
majestic  grandeur,  the  cradle  of  tempests  and  the  birth- 
place of  a  thousand  streams.  Nestled  in  their  deepest 
recesses  is  the  Utah  Lake,  a  broad  sheet  of  clear,  fresh 
water,  that  ever  holds  a  mirror  to  the  purple  heaven.  Here 
Nature  seems  to  exult  in  sublimity.  In  outline,  everything 
is  massive,  grand,  and  imposing. 

Following  the  slight  traces  of  a  road,  we  came  suddenly 
upon  a  singular  vehicular  establishment.  It  was  a  sort  of 
cart,  consisting  of  a  beam,  axletree,  and  two  wheels,  to 
which  a  couple  of  unbarked  saplings  were  fastened  for 
shafts,  and  hitched  in  these,  by  attachments  of  raw-hide 
and  rope,  stood  a  single  ox,  meekly  and  contentedly  chew- 
ing his  cud.  A  man,  poorly  dressed,  and  with  a  crowuless 
hat,  was  lying  on  the  ground,  in  the  shadow  of  the  wagon, 
while  two  hounds  were  squatting  on  their  haunches,  in  close 
companionship.  The  man  eyed  me  with  a  sullen  stare,  while 
the  dogs  growled  and  showed  their  teeth. 

"  Good-day,  friend,"  said  I,  advancing. 


BRICK-TOWN.  109 

He  barely  noticed  my  salute. 

"  Is  this  the  direct  road  to  Brick-town  ?'•'  I  inquired — the 
settlement  I  sought  having  obtained  that  sobriquet,  from 
the  fact  that  its  inhabitants  were,  or  had  been,  brick-burners 
in  their  native  country. 

"I  don't  see  why  ye  can  be  wanting  to  go  there,"  he 
replied,  without  looking  up. 

"I  don't  know  that  it  matters  why,"  I  answered ;  "though 
if  you  would  give  me  the  direction,  I  should  esteem  it  a 
great  favor." 

"  Well,  yes.  Keep  right  on,  then,  till  you  come  to  the 
sand,  when  you  are  e'enamost  there," 

"  I  thought  this  was  sand,"  said  I ;  and,  indeed,  it  was. 

"  No,  this  ain't  the  sand,"  he  answered.  "  But  you  '11 
know  it  when  you  reach  it  j  and  then  keep  right  on  through 
that,  till  you  see  the  houses.  You  can't  miss  it." 

Not  seeing  any  probability  of  obtaining  more  perspicuous 

directions,  I  thanked  him,  and  rode  on. 

* 
I  did,  indeed,  know  the  sand  when  I  came  to  it,  which 

was  very  suon.  It  was  deep  and  heavy,  with  a  vegetation 
of  large  flowering  cactuses  ;  but,  fortunately,  it  did  not 
extend  far  ;  and  I  soon  came  in  sight  of  a  long,  low  fringe 
of  green,  which  1^  knew  to  be  a  belt  of  cottonwood  trees, 
such  as  always  in  this  country  line  the  margin  of  the 
streams. 

I  soon  came  to  the  village.  It  was  a  cluster  of  wretched 
mud-hovels,  with  pig-sties  close  to  the  doors,  and  miserabla 
little  gardens,  growing  nothing  but  weeds.  There  seemed 


110  THE   HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

an  abundance  of  -women,  children,  and  dogs,  though  but 
little  of  anything  else.  Few  of  the  houses  had  either  win- 
dows or  doors,  and  their  only  furniture  seemed  to  be  old 
barrels,  boxes,  and  such  like  lumber. 

Of  course,  I  attracted  great  attention.  Heads  were 
thrust  from  the  windows,  and  the  little,  low  doors  were 
crowded  with  women  of  uncouth  shape  and  feature.  I 
have  scarce  ever  seen  females,  of  any  age  or  country,  more 
decidedly  ugly.  They  laughed,  leered,  and  talked  to  each 
other  in  a  loud  voice,  as  I  passed  by. 

Approaching  one  of  the  hovels,  which  had  an  air  of 
docency,  compared  with  the  rest,  J  alighted,  hitched  my 
horse  to  an  old  cart,  and  went  in.  The  air  of  the  apart- 
ment was  almost  suffocating,  so  hot  and  offensive,  and  great 
untidiness  prevailed,  though  it  is  doubtful  how  far  neatness 
is  compatible  with  such  a  place.  There  was  no  fireplace, 
but  a  great,  thick,  old-fashioned  cook-stove  occupied  nearly 
one- fourth  of  the  room.  I  subsequently  ascertained  that  it 
was  the  only  oven  in"  the  village,  and  quite  a  public  concern, 
as  all  the  baking  required  for  the  whole  was  done  in  it,  and 
that,  consequently,  it  was  reeking  with  heat  the  greater 
part  of  the  time.  I  presume  the  inhabitants,  of  the  cabin 
had  become  accustomed  to  the  sweltering  atmosphere.  A 
man,  looking  very  dirty  and  dissipated,  was  lying  at  full 
length  on  the  ground,  smoking  a  short,  black,  stumpy  pipe. 
A  woman,  with  a  bruised  face,  held  to  her  bosom  a  little, 
gasping  baby  ;  while  another  woman,  who  looked  younger, 
but  whose  cast  of  feature  was  excessively  disagreeable,  sup- 


COLD   WATER   SCAECE.  Ill 

• 

ported  a  larger  infant  on  her  lap.  There  was  a  great  girl 
washing  some  dirty  dishes  in  some  very  dirty  water,  and  a 
great  boy  tying  np  a  dog,  while  any  quantity  of  smaller 
boys  and  girls  were  lounging  about  in  various  attitudes,  not 
remarkable  for  grace.  All  occupations,  except  the  smoking, 
stopped  ;  and,  though  none  welcomed,  all  looked  at  me. 

11  Well,  my  friends,"  I  said,  assuming  an  air  of  careless- 
ness which  I  certainly  did  not  feel,  "I  am  something  of  a 
stranger  in  these  parts.  Can  you  direct  me  to  a  house 
where  I  can  obtain  -refreshment  for  myself  and  my  horse  ?" 

"  Don't  you  want  something  else  ?"  growled  the  man  on 
the  floor.  "  Wouldn't  you  like  to  have  some  whisky  now, 
or  a  swig  of  rum,  in  exchange  for  a  broad  piece  of  silver  ?" 

"  No,  sir,"  I  replied.  "  I've  no  occasion  for  anything  of 
the  kind,  though  I  would  thank  you  for  a  drink  of  cold 
water." 

"  Cold  water  !"  cried  the  man.  "  Ha  1  ha  I  that's  too 
good  I  Cold  water  in  hell  I  We  live  in  hell,  sir  1 — that's 
what  I  call  it.  Run,  some  of  ye,  and  get  some  water,  such 
as  it  is."  But  nobody  stirred. 

"  Can  you  direct  me  to  the  bishop's  ?"  I  asked,  at  length. 

"  And  what  do  you  want  to  go  there  for  ?"  he  inquired. 
"  The  bishop  is  no  better  off  than  the  rest  of  us.  They 
hadn't  nothing  to  eat  yesterday.  I  don't  b'lieve  they  havo 
to-day." 

I  glanced  at  the  women.  The  one  with  the  small  baby 
looked  sad  and  sorrowful,  while  the  other  broke  out  in  a 
coarse,  disgusting  laugh. 


112  THE  HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

• 

"  Do  you  suppose  the  bishop  to  be  at  home  ?"  I  inquired, 
hesitatingly. 

"  Better  look  after  your  horse,  I  guess,"  said  the  man. 
"  The  bishop  wants  nothing  of  such  as  you." 

"  But  I  want  something  of  him,"  I  answered.  "  Come, 
here  is  money,  if  you  will  tell  me  ;"  and  I  drew  a  half-dollar 
from  my  pocket.  In  a  moment,  I  saw  the  impropriety  of 
this  act.  A  telegraphic  look  of  intelligence  was  suddenly 
exchanged  all  round,  excepting  the  woman  with  the  small 
baby.  The  boy  let  go  his  hold  of  the  dog.  The  man  rose 
from  the  floor,  took  his  pipe  from  his  mouth,  and  came 
towards  me. 

"The  bishop  is  no  better  off  than  the  rest,"  he  said. 
"  Shouldn't  wonder  if  some  on  us  is  better  off  than  him. 
But  Jim  Leek,  down  here,  I  should  think  likely  he'd  keep 
you.  At  any  rate,  I'll  go  and  see." 

"  "Where  does  he  live  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Don't  worry  yourself,"  said  the  man.  "  Set  down  here, 
if  you  can  find  anything  to  set  on.  I'll  find  out."  And  he 
started.  I  was  somewhat  surprised  at  the  sudden  interest 
he  manifested  in  my  welfare,  but,  raising  my  eyes,  I  encoun- 
tered those  of  the  woman,  who  was  looking  at  me  with  a 
gaze  full  of  meaning..  A  sudden,  yet  fearful,  suspicior 
flashed  into  my  mind.  Yet  I  said  no  more.  I  felt  that  the 
only  person  who  would  willingly  give  me  the  desired  infor- 
mation, durst  not  do  so  ;  and  so,  not  knowing  what  else  to 
do,  I  went  out  and  stood  by  my  horse. 

I  saw  the  man  coming  ;  and,  attracted  by  my  appearance, 


THE  BISHOP'S  HOUSE.  113 

several  others  came  and  stood  around.  They  were  ill-look- 
ing fellows,  and  I  conld  not  but  notice  their  significant 
glances. 

"Jim  Leek  says  that  he'll  take  you,"  cried  the  fellow, 
"  though  his  accommodations  ain't  none  of  the  best ;  and  I 
guess  you  can  get  along  somehow.  Come  on."  f 

I  had  had  time  for  deliberation,  however ;  and,  turning 
suddenly  around  to  the  bystanders,  said,  "  Will  some  one  of 
you  tell  me  where  the  bishop  lives  ?  I  have  pressing  busi- 
ness with  him,  and  have  been  already  detained  too  long." 

"  He  lives  down  there,  in  that  house  standing  by  itself," 
replied  a  half-idiotic  fellow,  who  did  not  or  would  not  under- 
stand the  winks  and  gestures  around  him — "  the  house  clear 
down  furthest  of  any." 

"  Thanks,  my  good  fellow  !  May  you  always  find  a 
friend  in  need  !"  I  said  ;  and,  loosening  my  horsp,  mounted, 
and  rode  in  the  direction  he  had  pointed  out. 

To  tell  the  truth,  however,  I  began  to  fear  that  my  curi- 
osity, like  that  of  the  wives  of  Bluebeard,  would  be  the 
means  of  getting  me  into  trouble.  The  sun  was  just  sink- 
ing behind  the  western  horizon.  I  was  both  hungry  and 
thirsty,  and  so  was  my  faithful  animal.  Even  if ^  found 
the  bishop  at  home,  I  was  not  certain  of  a  welcome  recep- 
tion ;  but  of  one  thing  there  could  be  no  doubt — it  was  a 
nest  of  thieves  and  cut-throats,  who  would  not  shrink  from 
the  commission  of  the  foulest  crime. 

The  bishop's  house  was  not  a  whit  superior  to  the  others, 
that  I  could  discover  ;  and  I  had  little  hope  that  the  char* 


114:  THE  HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

acter  of  the  man  was  much  better.  As  I  rode  up,  a  man 
with  a  fiery  red  face  came  to  the  door.  I  bowed,  and 
addressed  him  with,  "  Good-evening."  He  returned  the 
salutation  more  courteously  than  I  expected,  though  not  so 
much  so  as  I  desired. 

"  Have  I  the  pleasure  of  addressing  the  bishop  ?"  I  asked. 

"  I  am  that  person,"  he  responded.  "  What  may  your 
business  be  ?" 

"  I  am  a  stranger  in  this  place,"  I  replied  ;  "  and  if  you 
can  accommodate  me  and  my  horse  with  shelter  and  refresh- 
ments for  the  night,  I " 

"  Can't  do  it,"  he  answered.  "  This  is  a  poor  place  for 
strangers.  Don't  see  what  they  ever  come  here  for." 

"  Different  motives  call  them  here,  I  presume.  But,  my 
good  friend,  you  see  I  don't  ask  you  to  give  this  to  me.  I 
am  able  and  willing  to  pay  you  abundantly." 

His  countenance  brightened  in  a  moment: 

"  Well,  well.  I  will  see  what  can  be  done.  Our  accom- 
modations are  none  of  the  best,  but  such  as  we  have  is  all 
that,  we  can  give." 

"  Certainly,  sir." 

He  then  pointed  out  a  sort  of  hovel,  where  he  said  my 
horse  could  stand  tl  rough  the  night.  I  requested  food  and 
water  for  her.  "  Yes,  he  would  see  how  they  were  on  it  for 
meal,"  and  went  into  the  house. 

In  a  few  minutes  he  returned,  with  an  old  water-bucket, 
and  a  tin  dish,  filled  with  coarse  meal.  For  water,  I  was 
directed  to  a  spring  at  a  little  distance.  Though  I  found 


115 

is  without  difficulty,  the  water  was  foul  and  muddy,  and 
nothing  but  extreme  thirst  could  have  induced  the  mare  to 
drink.  As  the  grass  grew  plentifully  around  the  spring,  I 
permitted  her  to  feed  till  dusk,  then  led  her  to  the  hovel, 
and  gave  her  the  meal.  Though  somewhat  apprehensive 
of  leaving  her  in  such  an  exposed  situation,  I  could  do  no 
better. 

On  returning  to  the  bishop's  house,  he  met  me  at  the 
door,  and  invited  me  to  enter,  with  apparent  cordiality  : 
"  Wj.lk  in,  sir  ;  walk  in  ;  and  don't  be  surprised  at  our 
poor  appearance.  Take  a  seat ;"  and  he  handed  along  the 
only  chair  to  be  seen  in  the  apartment. 

"  Thank  you,  sir  ;  occupy  the  chair  yourself.  I  will  sit 
here,  if  you  please  ;"  and  I  took  possession  of  a  low  bench. 
There  was  a  dim  light,  formed  by  a  wick  floating  loosely  in 
a  saucer  of  melted  grease,  and  the  room  was  swarming 
with  mosquitoes.  Presently,  two  women  came  in,  saluted 
me  coldly,  and  sat  down. 

"  Couldn't  you  prepare  this  gentleman  a  little  supper  ?" 
inquired  the  bishop,  whom  I  now  understood  to  be  the  hus- 
*band  of  the  two. 

Neither  deigned  an  answer,  and  I  began  to  consider  my 
chances  rather  doubtful.  Presently,  another  woman  came 
in,  a  third  and  younger  wife,  who,  being  reigning  sultana 
for  the  time,  desired  to  appear  amiable.  Again  the  bishop 
proposed  that  some  one  should  get  supper  for  me. 

"  What  shall  I  get,  pa  ?"  she  inquired. 


116  THE   HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

"  Oh,  anything  that  you  can.  I  dare  say  the  gentleman 
is  not  particular,"  he  answered. 

"  Well,  I  will  see,"  she  said. 

She  did  see  ;  but  found  the  larder  empty,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  little  coarse  meal  and  a  few  potatoes.  Then  the 
water  was  gone,  the  fire  out,  and,  to  judge  from  appear- 
ances, I  was  likely  to  make  a  great  deal  of  trouble.  See- 
ing this,  I  begged  them  to  desist,  saying  that  I  could  do 
very  well  without  supper.  The  bishop,  however — who  pro- 
bably had  an  eye  to  the  pay — insisted  that  it  would  never 
do  to  exhibit  towards  a  stranger  such  an  infringement  of 
the  laws  of  hospitality  ;  that  he  could  get  the  water,  while 
she  made  the  fire  ;  that  it  would  take  very  little  time, 
beginning  being  more  than  half. 

"  Liz,  go  and  borrow  some  fire,  can't  you  ?"  said  the 
third  favorite,  addressing  one  of  the  others. 

"  No  ;  I  shan't,"  retorted  Liz. 

"  You  go,  Sally,  won't  you,  while  I  peel  the  potatoes." 

Sally  shrugged  her  shoulders,  but  made  no  move  to  go. 

"  Well,  I  can  go  myself,  and  no  thanks  to  you  ?"  she  con- 
tinued. The  two  women  sat  like  dumps,  apparently  sullen* 
or  sulky.  The  bishop,  meanwhile,  went  out,  with  a  pail  on 
his  arm,  and  his  wife  followed,  to  borrow  fire,  leaving  me  to 
my  meditations.  These,  it  will  readily  be  conceived,  were 
not  of  the  most  -pleasant  character  ;  but  they  were  sud- 
denly interrupted  by  a  loud  scream  overhead. 

"  There  !   that  young  un's  awake,"  said  Liz,  and  she 


"  MATCHES."  117 

mounted  the  ladder  leading  to'  the  loft.  The  scream  was 
followed  by  others,  in  quick  succession,  and,  it  seemed,  from 
four  or  five  voices,  so  multitudinous  and  loud  was  the  din. 

"  Darn  the. young  uns,  I  say  1"  muttered  Sally,  likewise 
ascending  the  ladder. 

The  music  overhead  seemed  momentarily  to  increase, 
between  the  harsh  scolding  of  the  women  and  the  cries  of 
the  children,  varied,  by  way  of  chorus,  with  an  occasional 
noise  of  blows.  In  the  midst,  the  fire-borrower — whom  I 
shall  henceforth  denominate  my  hostess — returned,  carrying 
a  small  handful  of  coals  between  some  hollow  pieces  of  bark. 

"  You  don't  have  matches  here,"  I  remarked,  wishing  to 
appear  sociable. 

"  Matches  1"  she  reiterated,  with  an  accent  of  some  sur- 
prise— "  Matches  I  I  should  think  there  was  enough  of 
them  !" 

"  Then  why  don't  you  use  them  ?    They  are  very  handy." 

"What  do  you  mean  ?"  she  said.  "  I  thought  you  was 
talking  about  matches — getting  married." 

This  ludicrous  misunderstanding  completely  upset  my 
gravity,  and  we  laughed  together,  thus  becoming  acquaint- 
ances and  very  good  friends.  It  is  astonishing  how  a  joke 
will  unbend  the  most  austere  ;  how  it  inspires  patience  and 
creates  intimacies  ;  how,  from  laughing  with  a  stranger,  you 
get  to  talking  to  him.  It  is  ever  so  with  me. 

"  The  tempest  overhead  has  subsided,"  I  remarked. 

"What?"  she  queried. 

"  The  tempest  overhead  has  subsided,"  I  repeated. 


118  THE   HUSBAND   IN  UTAH. 

"Oh,  yes,"  she  said.  "I  have  become  so  used  to  such 
sounds  that  I  don't  mind  them  at  all.  Neither  does  pa." 

"  No  fire  yet  I"  said  the  bishop,  entering  the  house,  and 
setting  down  the  pail  of  water,  with  a  loud  grunt. 

"  And  little  prospect  of  any,"  she  echoed. 

Indeed,  it  was  becoming  doubtful  whether  the  few  bor- 
rowed coals,  instead  of  kindling  a  flame,  would  not  become 
totally  extinguished. 

"  Here,  pa  ;  you  set  down  and  whittle  up  some  shavings, 
can't  you  ?"  she  said. 

"  Be  sure,  I  can.  I  declare,  these  hot  nights  are  enough 
to  kill  the  devil  1"  he  continued. 

I  thought  so,  too,  and  finally  left  the  house  to  procure  a 
breath  of  fresh  air.  Outside,  my  ears  were  greeted  with  a 
concert,  though  not  of  sweet  sounds.  Two  or  three  dogs 
were  barking,  probably  for  their  own  amusement,  while 
shouts  and  oaths  of  drunken  profanity  came  from  a  cabin 
where  several  men  had  assembled  to  hold  a  debauch.  The 
night  was  sultry — not  a  breath  of  air  stirring — and  I  re- 
turned into  the  house. 

The  bishop  had  sunk  down  ou  a  bench,  and  was  violently 
fanning  himself  with  a  handkerchief.  His  wife  was  squat- 
ting before  the  fire-place,  quite  as  violently  blowing  the  fire 
with  her  apron,  of  which  the  corners  were  wrapped  around 
her  hands  ;  and  the  motion  up  and  down  puffed  out  great 
gusts  of  smoke  and  embers,  completely  enveloping  her  and 
filling  the  room. 

"  Sit  down,"  said  the  bishop.     "  We've  got  a  beginning, 


GETTING   SUITER.  119 

you  see,  and  beginning's  half.  There's  never  smoke  without 
fire." 

He  was  disposed  to  be  facetious. 

"  I  exceedingly  regret  putting  your  family  to  so  much 
trouble,"  I  said. 

"  Never  mind  that — money'll  make  it  all  square." 

If  he  could  feel  so,  I  was  satisfied. 

At  length  the  smoke  cleared  away,  and  its  place  was  sup- 
plied by  a  bright,  clear  flame.  An  iron  pot — which  did 
triple  service,  as  tea-kettle,  boiler,  and  stew-pan — waa 
brought  out  from  its  seclusion  in  the  corner,  filled  with 
water,  and  set  over  the  flame.  Then,  while  the  Rev.  Mor- 
mon peeled  a  handful  of  potatoes  with  his  jack-knife,  my 
hostess  mixed  a  corn-cake,  after  the  most  approved  back- 
woods fashion.  The  dough — simple  meal  and  water,  with  a 
little  salt — she  flattened,  with  her  hand,  on  a  long,  narrow, 
but  smooth  board,  and  placed  it  on  one  edge  before  the  fire. 
In  this  reflection  of  glowing  heat,  the  cake  soon  acquired 
the  requisite  tint  of  brownness,  when  it  was  nicely  turned, 
and  the  other  side  exposed  to  the  same  ordeal. 

Meanwhile,  the  potatoes  were  being  boiled  ;  and  an  hour 
before  midnight  my  supper  was  pronounced  ready.  Though 
got  up  with  extraordinary  effort,  it  was  not  a  very  extra- 
ordinary affair.  Tea  or  coffee  was  not  to  be  thought  of  in 
such  a  connection.  Meat  was  a  proscribed  delicacy.  Sweet- 
cakes  and  sweetmeats  were  out  of  the  question  ;  but  a  sharp- 
ened appetite  gave  a  zest  to  the  mort  ordinary  food,  and  I 
made  a  hearty,  though  frugal  meal. 


120  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

During  the  repast,  I  attempted  to  open  a  conversatioD 
with  the  bishop  about  the  prospects  of  the  Mormon  Church, 
and  its  connections  in  Europe.  He  was  not  inclined  to  give 
me  the  information  I  desired,  but  I  fancied  that  he  seemed 
dissatisfied.  I  learned,  however,  that  he  was  a  man  of 
small  property  in  England,  frugal,  contented,  and  happy  in 
the  affections  of  a  small  and  virtuous  family.  But  the  ser- 
pent crept  into  his  Eden — the  tempter  came.  He  whispered 
of  wealth,  honor,  and  distinction  in  the  new  church.  The 
dormant  passions  of  his  nature  were  aroused.  Thoughts 
and  feelings  in  his  heart  that  had  always  slept,  came  into 
strange  and  tumultuous  exercise.  He  no  longer  relished 
the  simple  pleasures  of  his  home.  He  shrunk  from  toil, 
and  despised  the  honest  and  honorable  occupations  of  his 
ancestors.  The  glowing  accounts  of  the  New  World,  with 
its  Land  of  Promise,  whose  beauty  of  climate  and  fertility 
of  soil  was  described  as  unequalled,  induced  him  to  emigrate. 
He  sold  his  property,  placed  the  proceeds  in  the  general 
church-fund,  and,  with  others  of  his  countrymen,  took  pas- 
sage in  a  ship  for  New-York,  under  the  superintendence  of 
a  Mormon  priest.  After  many  difficulties,  they  reached 
Zion,  in  a  state  of  want,  discomfort,  and  disorganization 
absolutely  indescribable.  Their  national  spirit,  however, 
kept  them  together.  They  hated  the  Yankees,  and  the 
Yankees  despised  them.  Brigham  took  the  matter  in  hand, 
but  could  not  reconcile  the  jarring  factions.  Finally,  he 
advocated  their  removal  and  settlement  in  a  separate  col- 
ony— thus  forming  a  distinct  branch  of  his  church,,  with  a 


THE  BISHOP   ON  POLYGAMY.  121 

bishop,  chosen  from  their  number,  to  superintend  their  spir- 
itual affairs.  They  consented  to  this,  and  my  entertainer 
was  the  one  selected.  Yet  his  promotion  was  merely  nomi- 
nal, and  barren  alike  of  wealth  or  honor. 

He  informed  me  that  the  Mormons  were  quite  numerous 
in  England,  and  had  their  chapels  and  places  for  public 
worship  in  many  parts  of  London. 

"  Do  they  practise  polygamy  there  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  No  ;  the  laws  will  not  allow  it,"  he  answered. 

"  And  do  you  really  and  truly  consider  it  an  advantage  ?" 
I  asked. 

He  shook  his  head. 

"Are  the  Mormons  in  England  aware  of  the  practice 
here  ?" 

"  They  were  not,  till  recently,"  he  replied.  "  I  under- 
stand that  it  proves  a  great  stumbling-block  in  foreign 
countries,  and  that  many  who  would  otherwise  join  us  hesi- 
tate about  doing  so  on  that  account." 

Having  finished  my  supper,  the  bishop  pointed  to  a  sort 
of  cot  in  one  corner  of  the  apartment,  where  he  said  I 
could  sleep  ;  and  then,  after  making  some  remarks  on  the 
lateness  of  the  hour,  and  several  excuses  for  the  paucity  of 
my  accommodations,  he  ascended  to  the  loft,  followed  by  his 
wife,  who  bade  me  "  good-night "  as  she  disappeared. 

Without  disrobing,  I  threw  myself  on  the  cot,  and 
attempted  to  sleep,  but  in  vain.  The  heated  atmosphere 
grew  closer  and  more  stifling  every  moment.  I  was  assailed 
on  all  sides  by  buzzing,  stinging  insects,  and  yet  more  nau- 

6 


122  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

seous  vermin.  It  was  near  morning  when  I  sunk  into  an 
uneasy  slumber,  from  which  the  advent  of  half  a  dozen 
children  aroused  me  in  the  morning.  They  were  little, 
dirty,  elfish-looking  beings,  only  half  cladr  in  old,  faded 
garments.  The  females  soon  followed,  and,  last  of  all,  came 
the  bishop  himself.  Not  wishing  for  a  repetition  of  the 
scenes  of  the  previous  evening,  I  made  immediate  prepara- 
tions to  depart,  and  inquired  of  my  host  what  I  should  pay 
him  for  all  the  trouble  that  I  had  occasioned.  Of  course,  I 
expected  a  pretty  good  charge,  but  was  hardly  prepared  for 
the  unreasonable  demand  of  five  dollars.  However,  I  paid 
it  without  grumbling,  and  was  rather  amused  at  his  appa- 
rent pleasure  when  I  bade  them  "  good-morning." 

I  started  direct  for  the  outhouse  where  I  had  left  my 
filly,  with  some  apprehensions  that  she  might  have  been 
stolen.  Fortunately,  in  that  respect,  at  least,  I  had  miscon- 
ceived their  characters.  She  was  there,  and  recognized  my 
approach  with  a  low  neigh.  I  adjusted  the  bridle  and  sad- 
dle to  her  head  and  back,  and,  leading  her  forth,  was  met 
by  the  man  with  whom  I  had  conversed  the  previous  eve- 
ning. He  was  evidently  recovering  from  a  debauch  of  the 
preceding  night. 

"  Going  now  ?"  he  said,  with  a  satanic  leer. 

"  I  am.  Have  you  any  objections  ?"  I  replied,  with  more 
complaisance  than,  under  other  circumstances,  I  might  have 
manifested  at  so  unceremonious  an  intrusion. 

"  Well,  you  can't  go  ;  not  yet,"  he  said,  taking  the  horse 
by  the  head.  "  I've  a  bill  to  settle  with  you." 


A  LUCKY  ESCAPE.  123 

This  was  said  with  a  voice,  gesture,  and  manner  that  I 
find  utterly  impossible  to  describe. 

"  What  kind  of  a  bill  ?"  I  repeated,  wishing  to  humor 
the  fellow,  though  strongly  inclined  to  knock  him  down. 

"  Let  go  of  my  horse,  will  you  ?"  I  continued — "  and  tell 
me  what  I  can  do  for  you  ;"  and  I  vaulted  on  her  back. 

"  No  ;  I  shan't  let  go  the  horse,"  he  replied  ;  and  now  he 
was  joined  by  three  others,  quite  as  ugly  and  depraved  as 
himself.  I  really  felt  alarmed,  and  began  to  consider  the 
best  way  of  escaping  their  clutches. 

"  You're  a  Dormant  P  said  one. 

"  A  spy  1"  chimed  another. 

"  I  knowed  that  last  night  1"  cried  a  third,  pleased  with 
the  idea  of  his  superior  penetration, 

A  lucky  thought  occurred  to  me  Taking  a  handful  of 
loose  change  and  coppers  from  my  pocket,  I  scattered  them, 
on  the  ground.  The  man  let  go  his  hold  of  the  horse  oil 
the  instant.  His  companion.-  scrambled  for  a  share,  while  I 
quietly  rode  off  without  further  opposition. 

I  subsequently  ascertained  thai  they  practised  a  regular 
system  of  sponging  or  travellers,  and  that  one  was  fortu- 
nate to  escape  as  easily  aa  I  did. 

I  stopped  several  times  on  my  homeward  route,  to  allow 
the  horse  to  feed  ;  and,  having  accidentally  lost  my  game 
of  the  previous  day,  shot  three  more  ducks.  It  was  near 
night  when  I  reached  the  residence  of  brother  Wells.  He 
was  pleased  to  see  me,  probably  because  I  brought  his 
horse  safely  back.  I  was  foolish  enough  to  think  that  pos- 


124:  THE  HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

Bibly  he  might  invite  me  to  take  supper  with  him,  though  I 
much  doubted  the  capability  of  his  household  to  prepare 
anything  eatable.  Whether  on  this  account,  or  because  he 
was  conscientiously  opposed  to  wasting  hospitality  on  a 
Gentile,  he  breathed  no  murmur  of  invitation  ;  and  I  plod-  * 
ded  back  to  Zion;  actually  more  hungry  than  I  had  ever 


SUPERIORITY  OF  THE  FIKST  WIFE.  125 


CHAPTER  VII, 

THE  MRS.  UNDERWOOD'S  JEALOUSIES,  MISUNDERSTANDINGS, 
AND  REMOVAL. 

IN  most  Mormon  families  where  polygamy  is  practised,  I 
believe  the  superiority  of  the  first  wife  to  be  involunta- 
rily acknowledged.  Certain  it  is,  that  the  others  are  jealous 
of  her,  and  act  as  spies  on  her  conduct.  If  they  can  find, 
or  invent  with  the  least  plausibility,  any  cause  of  reproach 
against  her,  they  are  only  too  happy  to  communicate  the 
same  to  their  lord.  Thus,  family  difficulties  are  occasioned, 
and  actions  really  innocent  in  themselves  become,  through 
jealousy  and  misrepresentation,  the  cause  of  great  domestic 
trouble. 

I  had  been  admitted,  as  a  boarder,  to  brother  Under- 
wood's house,  y'et  a  former  acquaintance  with  his  wife  had 
certainly  given  me  a  right  to  be  treated  with  greater  consid- 
eration than  a  mere  stranger.  I  had  sought  and  obtained 
many  opportunities  of  conversing  with  Maria,  thoughtless 
that  my  attentions  could  be  construed  to  mean  more  than 
mere  friendly  regard,  or  that  the  easy  and  amiable  Under- 


126  THE  HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

wood  could  be  induced  to  cherish  a  jealous  feeling.  I  had 
noticed  for  s<3me  time  an  increased  coolness  on  his  part 
towards  me,  and  had  half  suspected  that  a  system  of 
espionage  on  my  conversation  and  conduct  was  being  prac- 
tised. 

Latterly,  when  conversing  with  Maria,  a  flitting  shadow, 
the  sudden  fall  of  something,  or  the  echo  of  a  retreating 
footstep,  would  indicate  the  presence  of  a  third  person,  till 
I  really  began  to  think  that  the  wives  of  brother  Under- 
wood possessed  a  remarkable  sort  of  ubiquity.  They  were 
ever  hovering  near  you.  If  you  sat  in  the  dining-room,  the 
doors  would  be  left  open,  and  your  eyes  delighted  by  the 
continual  passing  and  repassing  of  petticoats.  If  you  as- 
cended the  stairs,  keen  black  eyes  watched  your  progress. 
Where  you  least  expected  their  appearance,  they  would  be, 
sometimes,  with  a  meaning  smile  on  their  countenances — at 
others,  with  a  leer — but  always  with  an  expression  that 
seemed  to  me  extremely  disagreeable.  I  am  not  naturally 
suspicious^  and  for  a  long  time  considered  these  little  cir- 
cumstances as  accidental,  of  course,  and  though  excessively 
annoying,  not  sufficiently  so  to  warrant  my  removal  from  the 
house.  Recently,  however,  I  began  to  suspect  that  more 
was  meant  than  met  the  eye,  and  determined  to  be  as 
guarded  and  circumspect  in  my  deportment  as  possible. 

On  the  day  of  my  return  from  Brick ville,  I  went  at  once 
to  my  boarding-hguse.  It  was  near  dusk  ;  and  two  drunkeu 
Indians,  and  one  or  two  soldiers,  were  in  the  bar-room,  with 
Underwood  behind  the  counter.  He  took  no  notice  of  my 


ME.  UNDERWOOD'S  JEALOUSY.  127 

entrance,  not  even  returning  my  evening  salutation.  I 
passed  on  to  the  kitchen,  with  niy  game.  Two  or  three  of 
the  ladies  were  standing  around,  in  listless  attitudes. 

"  Who  is  housekeeper  for  to-day  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  Mrs.  Maria,"  answered  one  of  them,  laying  a  peculiar 
emphasis  on  the  "  Mrs." 

"  And  where  is  she  ?" 

They  all  giggled,  but  returned  no  answer. 

Not  seeing  anything  so  very  ludicrous  in  my  question,  I 
inquired  what  they  were  all  laughing  at. 

This  redoubled  their  mirth,  when,  flinging  the  ducks  at 
•jhe  feet  of  one,  I  hastily  retreated  towards  my  room. 

It  was  now  duskish,  and  I  encountered  Maria  on  the  land- 
ing-place. She  carried  a  small  candle,  and  had  evidently 
been  weeping.  Instantly  recognizing  me,  she  said,  "  So 
you  have  returned  ;  but  you  must  go  away  again." 

"  Where  to  ?"  I  demanded. 

"  Anywhere.     You  must  seek  another  home." 

"  Seok  another  home  I     Why,  pray  ?" 

"  Ee^'irse — because — oh,  we  have  had  such  another  time 
during  your  absence  1  My  husband  was  so  angry  !  In 
short,  he  is  jealous  of  you." 

"  Jealous  of  me  1"  The  idea  was  so  ridiculous  that  I 
burst  into  a  loud  laugh.  I  could  not  help  it. 

"  Do  not  laugh,"  said  Maria.  "  It  will  be  heard.  Some 
one  is  watching  us  now,  I  expect.  I  dare  say  that  this 
moment  there  are  listeners  to  our  conversation.  You  must 
go  hence  immediately,  and  return  no  more." 


128  THE   HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

This  moment  I  heard  footsteps  and  voices. 

"  Together  again  \"  said  one  whom  I  knew  to  be  Under- 
wood. 

I  looked  around.  He  was  standing  at  the  bottom  of  the 
Staircase,  two  or  three  women  peering  over  his  shoulders,  on 
tip-toe,  and  the  bar-room  group  leering  and  staring  behind 
them.  Maria  retreated  hastily.  I  stood  still,  facing  the 
group  ;  for  I  thought  some  explanation  due  myself  and  her. 
Addressing  Underwood,  I  requested  to  know  the  meaning  of 
such  strange  conduct. 

"  You  know  very  well  what  it  means,"  he  replied. 
"  Wasn't  you  talking  just  now  to  Maria,  and  she  to  you  ? 
Tell  me  that  1" 

"  We  certainly  were  conversing." 

"What  about  ?"  asked  one  of  the  soldiers. 

"  Jealous  husbands,  and  wives  who  act  the  part  of  spies/' 
I  replied,  and  passed  on  to  my  room. 

The  agitation  of  my  feelings  almost  precluded  the  idea  of 
hunger.  Then  Nature  asserted  her  rights  over  sentiment. 
I  descended  the  stairs,  went  direct  to  the  larder,  and  helped 
myself.  Whether  any  one  saw  me  or  not,  I  neither  knew 
nor  cared. 

My  first  business  next  morning  was  to  procure  new  lodg- 
ings, and  I  determined,  rather  presumptuously,  not  to  go 
where  there  was  more  than  one  wife.  My  inquiries  must 
have  seemed  ridiculous  enough.  In  the  Eastern  cities,  the 
number  of  children  often  determines  the  bargain  in  such 
cases,  but  with  me  it  was  rather  the  number  of  wives. 


LOOKING  FOE  BOARD.  129 

"  Do  you  know  of  any  place  where  I  could  obtain  board 
for  a  month  or  so  ?"  I  said  to  an  old  Mormon  with  whom  I 
had  become  slightly  acquainted. 

"Well,  I  don't  know,"  he  replied.  "There's  brother 
Solomon — a  very  good  man — takes  in  boarders  sometimes. 
Don't  know  whether  or  not  he  wants  any  now." 

"  How  many  wives  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  Only  ten." 

"  Won't  do  for  me." 

"  Why  not  ? — the  more  the  merrier  1  One  is  a  good 
singer.  Another  plays  the  harp  beautifully.  I  should 
think  you  would  be  agreeably  entertained." 

I  shook  my  head. 

He  smiled. 

"  Is  there  a  man  in  this  city  with  only  one  wife  ?" 

"  There  may  be,  though  I  know  of  none." 

"  Not  one  ?" 

"  No.  Stay — yes  ;  there  is  Elder  Hyde.  I  recollect 
hearing  that  he  had  but  one." 

"And  do  you  suppose  that  he  could  be  induced  to  take 
me  in  ?" 

"  Doubtful.  His  wife,  they  say,  won't  suffer  any  addition 
to  the  family.  She  fears  it  might  lead  to  the  consequences 
she  most  dreads." 

"  I  shall  make  the  trial." 

"  You  can  do.  so,  but  I  think  it  will  be  useless." 

I  made  the  trial — it  was  useless. 

6* 


130  THE   HUSBAND   IN  UTAH. 


MRS.  HYDE. 

I  found  Mrs.  Hyde,  and  her  family,  in  &•  small,  yet  con- 
venient, adobe  house,  situated  at  the  eastern  side  of  the 
city,  in  a  very  public  place.  I  say  "  her  family ;"  for  she 
certainly  seemed  the  ruling,  reigning  spirit,  monopolizing 
the  conversation,  and  manifesting  her  independence  in  a 
thousand  little  ways.  I  was  quite  charmed  with  her  naive 
simplicity,  though  I  saw  that  it  augured  adverse  to  my 
scheme. 

Addressing  the  elder,  I  inquired,  "If  he  could  find  it 
convenient  to  take  a  boarder." 

"Ask  her,"  he  replied.    "  I  have  nothing  to  say  about  it." 

"We  have  had  several  applications  for  board  lately," 
she  interposed,  with  remarkable  vivacity.  "  Excuse  me^  sir, 
but  are  you  a  stranger  1" 

She  said  this  flitting  around  the  house  like  a  humming- 
bird, very  busy  in  preparing  dinner. 

"Not  exactly  a  stranger,  madam.  I  have  been  in  this 
place  about  two  months."  * 

*'  Where  have  you  been  living  1"  she  continued,  with  true 
feminine  curiosity. 

"  At  Underwood's." 

"  Indeed  !     And  why  don't  you  stay  there  ?" 

She  was  determined  to  have  the  whole  story,  while  I  felt 
such  questions  to  be  decidedly  impertinent. 


MRS.    HYDE.  131 

"  Excuse  my  freedom,  madam,  but  I  scarcely  think  that 
Bubject  pertinent  to  our  present  business,"  I  answered. 

Her  face  flushed  for  a  moment,  then  her  black  eyes 
twinkled,  and  she  finally  burst  into  a  laugh. 

"  That's  right  1"  said  the  elder,  with  mirth  depicted  ou 
his  countenance.  "  The  curiosity  of  women  is" 

"  Now,  hush  !"  said  the  little,  vivacious  wife,  clapping  her 
delicate  hand  over  his  mouth. 

The  husband  laughed  and  struggled. 

"  There  was  no  harm  in  her  asking,"  I  said. 

"  And  there  was  no  harm  in  your  refusing  to  tell,"  she 
answered.  "  I  understand  your  feelings  ;  the  rebuff  was 
merited.  Yet,  in  a  place  like  this,  where  there  is  such  a 
constant  influx  of  strangers,  it  is  necessary  to  know  some- 
thing of  one's  character,  especially  if  he  proposes  to  become 
an  inmate  of  one's  family." 

This  was  said  with  such  a  charming  air,  and  so  depre- 
cating a  manner,  that  I  felt  half  ashamed  of  myself,  and 
wondered  that  I  had  attributed  to  mere  feminine  curiosity 
what  had  evidently  arisen  from  a  better  and  nobler  feeling. 

Mrs.  Hyde,  assisted  by  her  husband,  set  out  the  dinner- 
table.  Then  she  laid  4he  cloth,  and  selected  the  dishes 
necessary  to  the  repast,  but  found,  in  the  meantime,  abun- 
dant opportunity  to  talk. 

"  I  made  up  my  mind  some  time  ago,  that  nothing  should 
induce  me  to  receive  any  additions  to  my  family  j"  and  she 
glanced  at  her  husband.  "  I  do  my  own  housework,  and  I 
find  it  quite  sufficient  to  keep  me  busy." 


132  THE   HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

"  I  have  told  her,  sometimes,  that  we  had  much  better 
take  in  two  or  three  boarders,  and  keep  a  hired  girl.  I 
think  we  could  make  it  profitable,"  said  the  husband. 

"  No  hired  girl  comes  on  the  premises  while  I  stay  1"  she 
answered  quickly,  her  black  eyes  fairly  snapping.  "I  de- 
test the  whole  tribe  1" 

"  That  is  a  strong  expression,"  said  the  husband. 

"  It's  a  true  one,  however,"  she  replied.  "  Come,  dinner 
is  ready." 

I  was  invited  to  partake,  and  not  having  received  a  defi- 
nite answer  to  my  proposal,  was  not  prepared  to  depart, 
and  in  consequence  accepted  it.  The  food  was  excellently 
dished,  and  served  with  taste.  There  was  no  disorder  nor 
disarrangement.  Everything  looked  well,  and  ate  well ;  for 
all  was  suitable  and  in  place.  The  elder  was  complaisant, 
the  lady  social,  and  I  thought  she  took  great. pains  to  inter- 
est and  amuse  him,  though  immovable  in  her  determination 
on  certain  points. 

When  the  dinner  was  finished,  and  we  had  risen  from  the 
table,  she  again  addressed  me  :  "  Now,  sir,  not  to  keep  yon 
longer  in  suspense,  I  must  firmly,  yet  respectfully,  decline 
to  receive  you." 

The  husband  looked  towards  her  as  if  he  wished  that  she 
had  decided  otherwise. 

11 1  have  one  question  to  ask,  however,  which  I  really 
hope  you  will  not  consider  impertinent.  I  wish  to  know 
what  induced  you  to  make  application  here  for  a  home.  It 


A.   SENSIBLE   WOMAN.  183 

is  a  perfect  mystery  to  me  why  so  many  seem  disposed  to 
abide  with  us." 

I  could  not  help  smiling  at  her  earnestness,  but  doubted 
the  expediency  of  making  the  communication  she  desired. 

"  Y»u  hesitate,"  she  began.     "  Shall  I  guess  ?" 

"  Certainly." 

"  And  you  will  tell  me  then  ?" 

"  Be  sure,  I  will." 

"  Is  it  because  my  husband  has  but  one  wife  ?" 

"  It  is.     At  least,  that  was  the  inducement  with  me." 

"  I  thought  so."  And  she  looked  archly  towards  her 
husband.  He  sat  apparently  in  meditative  mood. 

"  Have  you  seen  much  of  polygamy  ?"  she  questioned. 

"  I  could  not  be  in  this  country  without  seeing  enough  of 
it,"  I  replied. 

"  In  my  opinion,"  she  said,  "  it  is  the  most  abominable 
practice  ever  introduced  into  the  world.  If  I  had  a  daugh- 
ter, I  would  much  rather  see  her  shrouded  for  a  coffin,  than 
married  to  a  Mormon." 

"  But  a  Mormon  might  be  a  just  and  upright  man." 

"  Might  be,"  she  repeated.  "  Yes,  might  be,  as  my  hus- 
band is  ;  but  you  have  no  security  in  law,  Christianity,  or 
public  opinion.  If  my  hushand  goes  out,  I  cannot  help 
thinking  that  possibly  he  may  return  with  another  wife.  If 
a  single  lady  comes  to  visit  me,  how  can  I  be  sure  that  she 
has  no  designs  on  him  ?  And  the  worst  of  all  is,  I  am 
under  the  necessity  of  concealing  my  feelings." 


134:  THE  HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

"  That  must  be  a  vexation  to  one  so  free-spoken  as  your- 
self," retorted  the  husband. 

"  I  have  no  fears  that  this  gentleman  will  ever  take  the 
trouble  to  report  my  conversation,"  she  said. 

"  I  hope,  sir,  that  you  will  not,"  said  the  elder,  ad^pessing 
me.  "It  is  all  unfounded  prejudice  on  her  part.  Many 
families  live  happily,  I  believe,  where  there  are  two  or  even 
more  wives." 

"  I  replied  that,  after  my  hospitable  reception  and  enter- 
tainment in  their  family,  it  would  be  the  height  of  ingrati- 
tude in  me  to  report  anything  that  might  tend  to  their  dis- 
advantage ;  and  soon  after  took  leave,  really  pleased  with 

« 

my  visit. 

THE    NEW   BOARDIXG-HOUSE. 

After  making  repeated  inquiries,  I  was  driven  to  the 
alternative  of  accepting  any  situation  that  offered,  without 
reference  to  the  number  of  the  presiding  goddesses.  Mr. 
Inkley  had  but  two  wives — so  he  informed  me — and  they 
were  unexceptionable  women. 

"  And  how  many  children  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  Only  four  " — laying  great  stress  on  the  adverb.  "  Very 
good  children,  too.  Don't  think  you  have  ever  seen  better  ; 
still  and  obedient,  to  a  charm." 

To  Mr.  Inkley's  I  went,  accordingly. 

Maria  Underwood  was  not  in  sight  when  I  returned  for 
my  baggage,  though  two  or  three  of  the  others  stood 
iround,  apparently  watching  my  motions  with  much  satis- 


135 

faction.  I  took  no  notice  of  them — not  even  saying  "  fare- 
well " — and  hurried  away. 

Mr.  Inkley  was  a  singular  man, "and  some  of  his  points 
decidedly  laughable.  He  evidently  considered  it  beneath 
his  dignity  to  pay  much  attention  to  his  guests — sometimes 
rudely  turning  his  back  when  inquiries  were  made  of  him, 
and  scarcely  ever  heeding  complaints  or  requests.  His  wives 
were  far  his  superiors  in  manners,  but  as  they  were  expected 
to  do  all  the  work,  arid  perform  the  duties  of  attendance  on 
the  boarders  besides,  it  is  not  surprising  that  many  things 
were  disregarded  that  should  have  been  attended  to,  and 
that  it  seemed  the  study  of  each  to  shirk  the  labors  and 
responsibilities  herself,  by  laying  them  thick  and  heavy  on 
the  shoulders  of  her  companion.  Thus,  if  the  towels  were 
not  changed,  or  the  chamber  service  duly  performed,  Martha 
-accused  Hannah  of  the  rernissness,  or  Hannah  declared  that 
all  the  blame  was  chargeable  to  Martha. 

But  I  was  chiefly  amused,  though  many  times  halt  vexed, 
at  Inkley's  manner  of  praising  himself  and  the  arrangements 
of  his  household.  It  was  the  only  subject  over  which  he 
ever  grew  eloquent. 

"  What  an  excellent  supper  you  have  got,  Martha  !  I 
declare,  you  beat  all  women  for  getting  up  good  things;, 
with  little  effort,  though  I  cannot  say  without  cost.  Wish 
I  could  ;  it  would  be  better  for  all  concerned,"  he  began, 
drawing- his  chair  unceremoniously  to  the  table,  and  inviting 
me  to  follow. 


136  THE   HUSBAND   IN  UTAH. 

"  We  have  little  variety  here,"  he  continued.  "  Though 
I  never  fancied  variety  in  food — a  few  dishes,  and  good 
ones,  I  say.  Martha  understands  that  I" 

At  this  juncture,  Hannah  flung  out  of  the  room  in  high 
dudgeon,  while  Martha  smiled  complacently,  and  I  looked 
in  vain  to  discover  some  particular  excellence  in  the  dishes 
before  me.  They  consisted  of  cold  salt-meat,  dry  slices  of 
bread,  stale  butter,  and  some  kind1  of  wild  fruit,  stewed  in 
water,  without  spice  or  sugar.  The  weakest  nerves  could 
not  have  been  deranged  by  the  tea,  which  was  served  with 
blue  milk  only,  while  cakes  and  preserves  seemed  unknown 
or  forbidden  delicacies. 

"  Now,  do  help  yourself,"  said  Inkley,  setting  the  exam- 
ple. "Make  yourself  at  home,  as  Aaron  used  to  say. 
Don't  you  remember,  Martha,  when  we  went  to  Aaron's, 
that  tiin9,  with  your  sister's  family,  and  you,  being  afraid- 
that  Susy  wouldn't  like  so  many  of  us  coming  at  once,  took 
along  an  old  dress,  to  work  in,  and  assist  her  about  getting 
dinner  ;  and  how  pleased  Aaron  seemed,  and  how  he  tickled 
you  by  continually  saying,  '  Now,  Matty,  make  yourself  at 
home?'"  ' 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  I  remember  it  all,"  said  Martha  ;  "  but  it 
was  hardly  necessary  to  repeat  it  here." 

"  Help  yourself  to  the  butter.  Excellent  butter  we  have 
in  Deseret — far  superior  to  that  in  the  States,"  he  continued, 
affecting  to  eat  eagerly,  though  in  reality  devouring  little. 

"  Now,  don't  stop  so !"  he  said,  when  I  refused  th** 


DIFFERENT  IDEAS   OF   COMFORT.  137 

second  cup  of  tea,  and  drew  back.  "  Why,  I  ain't  half 
done  yet  I  Bread  and  butter,  and  stewed  berries,  are  good 
enough  for  a  king. 

"  We  have  a  very  nice  chamber  in  readiness  for  you,  sir," 
he  said,  soon  after  tea,  "  My  dear,"  addressing  Martha, 
"  that  bed  has  been  properly  aired,  has  it  not  ?  I  know 
you  always  have  things  very  nice  and  comfortable,  but 
thought  no  harm  could  come  of  mentioning  it." 

Martha  replied  that  if  he  wished  to  know  about  that,  he 
must  go  to  Hannah. 

"Well,  I  presume  it's  all  right.  We  will  go,  if  you 
please." 

1  followed  him  up  stairs,  to  a  small  room,  in  one  corner 
of  the  house,  next  under  the  roof.  To  judge  from  appear- 
ances, not  a  soul  had  entered  it  that  day.  The  door  was 
closed,  the  windows  had  been  shut,  and  the  air  was  as  hot 
and  stifling  as  that  of  an  oven. 

"  A  very  nice  chamber,  this,"  said  Inkley  ;  "  convenient 
and  comfortable." 

"  Uncomfortable,  you  might  have  said,"  I  suggested. 
"  The  heat  is  intolerable  ;  the  room  has  not  been  sufficiently 
ventilated,"  and  I  threw  up  a  window. 

"  Strange  1"  said  Inkley.  "  This  room  has  always  been  a 
favorite  with  every  one.  •  I  had  some  thoughts  of  occupy- 
ing it  myself,  but  the  boarders  always  liked  it  so  well,  that 
I  hesitated  to  deprive  them  of  it.  Hope  you  are  not  more 
difficult  to  suit  than  the  others  have  been.  Good-evening," 
and  he  withdrew. 


138  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

That  was  a  pretty  good  hint.  I  slept,  as  usual,  with  the 
windows  open,  and  awoke  in  the  morning,  refreshed  and 
invigorated.  Various  domestic  sounds  saluted  my  ears. 
The  husband  talking,  one  woman  scolding,  another  laugh- 
ing, with  the  racing,  shouting,  and  crying  of  children,  quite 
counterbalanced  my  natural  tendency  to  a  morning  reverie 
in  bed.  I  rose  hastily,  but  no  conveniences  for  a  gentle- 
man's toilet  were  at  hand — neither  water-pitcher,  stand, 
napkin,  or  mirror.  There  was  no  bell ;  but  had  there  been, 
who  would  have  answered  it  ?  Fortunately,  I  had  acquired 
a  habit  of  taking  things  as  they  came,  and  had  been  too 
long  accustomed  to  a  camp-life,  to  be  discomposed  by  trivial 
circumstances.  Taking  care  that  my  apartment  should  have 
a  good  airing,  at  least,  for  that  day,  I  removed  the  sheets, 
shook  up  the  bed,  and  extended  the  windows  to  their  utmost 
capacity.  . 

While  making  these  arrangements,  I  heard  Inkley's  voice 
calling,  from  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  "  Breakfast  is  ready,  sir." 

I  descended,  to  find  that  breakfast  was  not  ready,  but 
only  in  a  state  of  preparation.  The  kitchen  was  divided 
from  the  sitting-room  by  a  thin  partition  ;  and  it  was  impos- 
sible, while  remaining  in  the  one,  to  be  ignorant  of  what  was 
going  on  in  the  other.  The  women  were  quarrelling,  and 
applying  to  each  other  the  coarsest  and  most  brutal  epi- 
thets ;  and  the  husband,  by  attempts  to  reconcile  them, 
only  made  matters  worse.  Growing  vexed  and  wearied  at 
this,  he  seized  the  broom,  and  threatened  to  strike  the  first 
one  that  opened  her  mouth  to  speak  again.  "And  get 


GATHERING   HONEY-DEW.  139 

breakfast  ready  in  double  quick  time.  Don't  you  know  that 
the  gentleman  is  waiting  ?" 

"  Let  him  wait,  then  I"  muttered  one  of  them. 

By  the  time  that  breakfast  was  ready,  however,  Hannah 
had  become  good-natured,  though  Martha  refused  to  appear 
at  the  table.  The  master,  as  usual,  extolled  the  fare,  and 
pronounced  the  lady  beside  him  the  most  accomplished 
housekeeper  in  the  world. 

During  this  time,  the  children  were  scrambling  for  the 
choice  of  pieces,  and  drawing  the  saucer  of  berries  from 
one  to  the  other,  alternately,  across  the  table. 

"  Good  children,  they  are,"  said  the  father,  "  though  full 
of  spirits,  and  a  little  boisterous  sometimes.  But  we  were 
all  children  once,  I  suppose,  and  probably  no  better  than 
.those  we  see  around  us  now.  People  don't  realize  this  as 
they  should,  or  they  would  exhibit  more  patience  with  the 
little  ones.'* 

Having  finished  my  breakfast,  I  went  out  to  breathe  the 
fresh  air ;  and,  walking  to  the  banks  of  a  small  stream, 
encountered  a  party  gathering  honey-dew  from  the  leaves 
of  the  cottonwood  trees  growing  along  its  banks.  They 
were  in  high  spirits,  and  the  valley  rang  with  their  shouts, 
songs,  arid  hilarious  laughter.  There  were  old  and  young — 
men,  maidens,  and  boys — some  with  spoons  and  saucers,  and 
others  without — but  all,  it  seemed  to  me,  more  intent  on 
enjoyment  than  on  obtaining  the  honeyed  secretion,  which 
stood  in  great  saccharine  globules  on  the  leaves.  The 
saints  profess  to  consider  this  substance  as  identical  with 


140  THE  HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

the  manna  which  fell,  miraculously,  to  supply  the  pressing 
wants  of  the  Israelites  during  their  sojourn  in  the  wilder- 
ness. Gentile  eyes,  however,  cannot  discover  anything 
extraordinary  in  it.  It  resembles  gum-arabic  in  color,  but 
is  of  softer  and  less  adhesive  consistence,  with  more  decided 
saccharine  taste.  To  one  unused  to  eating  it,  it  is  scarcely 
palatable. 

Several  married  men  were  in  the  company.  One,  with 
whom  I  was  slightly  acquainted,  and  knew  as  the  husband 
of  six  wives,  was  flirting  and  ogling  most  unmercifully  with 
a  delicate  maiden  of  twelve  years,  who  seemed  decidedly 
pleased  with  his  attentions,  practising  all  the  arts  and 
allurements  of  the  most  accomplished  coquette.  A  more 
disgusting  sight  I  never  witnessed.  Stranger  still,  the  girl's 
mother  was  along,  highly  elated  with  the  scene,  and  seeming 
to  do  all  in  her  power  to  increase  their  intimacy. 

I  did  not  mingle  with  the  group,  but  seated  myself  on 
the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree,  within  sight  and  hearing,  where 
I  was  presently  joined  by  one  of  the  party.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  comely  appearance,  and  remarkably  fine 
eyes,  beaming  with  intelligence.  I  had  previously  seen 
him,  and  he  now  accosted  me  with  an  ease  and  grace  of 
manner  only  to  be  acquired  by  mingling  in  good  society. 

"  You  are  an  Eastern  man,  I  think,  sir  ?" 

"  I  am." 

"  Were  you  ever  in  New  York  ?" 

"  That  is  my  native  State." 

"  Then  I  must  shake  hands  with  you  ;  for  it  is  mine,  too, 


AN  OPINION   PLAINLY  EXPEESSED. 

and  I  am  proud  to  say  it,"  he  continued,  extending  his 
hand. 

We  shook  hands. 

"  Excuse  my  liberty — your  name  ?" 

I  gave  it. 

"And  mine  is  Frederick  B r.  And  now  we  may  con- 
sider ourselves  as  acquainted,  for  the  future,  may  we  not  ?" 

"  Certainly." 

And  we  entered  into  conversation.  I  soon  ascertained 
that  he  was  not  particularly  partial  to  the  Mormon  system 
of  religious  faith,  and  viewed  the  patriarchal  institution 
they  professed  to  prize  so  highly,  with  supreme  contempt. 
His  allusion  to  that  subject  excited  my  curiosity. 

"  Have  you  a  family  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  No,  sir  ;  and  never  shall  have  while  I  remain  here." 

"Why  not?  I  have  seen  several  fine  specimens  of 
womanhood  among  your  people." 

"When  I  marry,  my  wife  must  be  both  virtuous  and 
intelligent.  I  could  not  find  a  woman  here  that  would 
meet  my  views  in  that  respect." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"What  I  say." 

"  That  there  are  no  virtuous  women  in  Utah  ?" 

"  Just  so." 

"  I  think  there  must  be." 

"  You  have  not  penetrated  beneath  the  veil." 

"  Probably  not." 

"  I  may  do  wrong  in  saying  that  there  are  none.     There 


14:2  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

must  be  some,  I  suppose.  Sodom  could  furnish  one  right- 
eous man  ;  Noah  remained  a  preacher  of  righteousness, 
when  all  flesh  had  corrupted  their  way  ;  and.  there  may  be 
some  who  are  really  endowed  with  more  correct  moral  prin- 
ciple than  I  give  them  credit  for.  Till  my  mother  died,  I 
knew  there  was  one.  Since  then,  I  have  had  no  faith  in 
those  by  whom  I  have  been  surrounded." 

"  Then  you  have  parents  here  ?" 

"  My  father  is  here.  As  I  have  told  you,  my  mother  is 
dead.  Love  and  gratitude  to  the  authors  of  my  being,  first 
brought  me  here,  and  the  same  feelings  now  detain  me." 

Meanwhile,  the  gatherers  of  the  honey-dew  had  obtained 
all  the  sweets  to  be  found  there,  and  departed  to  look  else- 
whore.  We  were  not  sorry  to  be  alone.  He  told  me  of 
their  beautiful  home  in  New  York,  and  how  happy  they 
were  in  the  society  of  friends  and  neighbors,  till  the  tempter 
came. 

"  My  father,"  he  continued,  "  was  simple  in  his  ways  and 
habits,  unsophisticated  and  ignorant  of  the  world  as  a  child. 
My  mother  was  gentleness  itself,  and  of  the  most  confiding, 
inoffensive,  and  placid  disposition.  Neither  had  'enjoyed  tLe 
advantages  'of  a  classical  education.  They  were  of  the  old 
school,  when  to  read,  write,  and  cipher  to  the  Rule  of 
Three,  was  the  acme  of  ordinary  attainment.  But  I  have 
always  observed  that  those  most  deficient  in  education 
themselves,  seem  most  disposed  to  bestow  its  coveted  trea- 
sures on  their  children.  I  was  an  only  child,  and  they 
determined  that  I  should  be  educated,  whatever  .might  be 


A   SAD   HISTORY.  14:3 

the  consequence.  This  determination  was,  probably,  the 
cause  of  all  our  subsequent  misfortune  ;  for,  had  I  been 
near  my  parents,  instead  of  being  at  college,  in  the  hour  of 
their  temptation  and  trial,  they  would  not  have  fallen  into 
*.lie  snare. 

"  A  letter  reached  me  from  my  mother.  It  breathed  her 
usual  tenderness,  but  I  detected  in  it  a  change  from  the 
usual  placid  serenity.  I  felt,  in  a  moment,  that  something 
had  occurred  to  agitate  or  wound  her  feelings,  though  of  its 
nature  I  had  not  the  most  distant  idea.  That  day,  in  look- 
ing over  the  newspaper  published  in  my  native  village,  I 
saw  an  announcement  that  the  Mormons  were  to  preach  in 
the  schoolhouse,  at  an  appointed  time,  with  a  preliminary 
view  of  the  rise  and  peculiarities  of  the  new  faith.  Yet  I 
never  dreamed  that  my  honored  parents  could  be  seduced 
from  allegiance  to  the  church  they  had  loved  and  honored 
from  childhood.  I  had  too  much  confidence  in  their  stabil- 
ity of  principle  and  abiding  good-sense,  and  only  thought  of 
them  as  wondering  at  the  defection  and  apostasy  of  others. 
What,  then,  was  my  surprise  when  another  letter  from  home 
announced  their  conversion  to  Mormonism,  and  informed 
me  that  they  had  determined  to  dispose  of  "their  beautiful 
home,  and  emigrate,  with  their  new-found  friends,  to  the 
Promised  Land  I  The  writing  was,  indeed,  my  mother's, 
but  I  knew — I  felt  certain — that  the  spirit  it  breathed  was 
not  hers.  Oh,  no  ;  I  would  not  believe  that  such  a  change 
had  come  over  her  whom  I  had  always  considered  the  most 
perfect  of  women," 


144:  THE  HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

"  And  you  went  home  ?" 

"  I  went  home,  after  asking  leave  of  absence,  which  was 
reluctantly  given.  The  stage  stopped  near  my  father's  door. 
I  alighted,  ran  to  the  house,  and  entered  the  parlor,  without 
announcement.  It  was  dusk,  and  the  apartment  was  lighted 
by  a  lamp.  I  was  surprised  to  see  so  much  company  around, 
and  all  were  too  busy  to  notice  my  abrupt,  yet  noiseless, 
entrance.  My  mother  was  seated  near  the  table,  on  which 
lay  a  pile  of  papers  ;  and  a  lawyer — bending  over  her  chair, 
and  pointing  with  his  finger  to  recent  inkmarks  on  one  of 
them — was  repeating,  '  You  acknowledge  this  to ' 

"  I  comprehended  the  scene  in  an  instant :  '  Stop,  mother  f 
For  Heaven's  sake,  stop  ! '  She  lifted  her  eyes,  sprung 
towards  me,  and  fell,  fainting,  into  my  arms." 

Frederick  paused  for  a  moment,  and  then  resumed — 

"  My  father  had  been  deluded  into  the  rash  act  of  signing 
over  his  entire  property  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  Mor- 
mon Church  ;  and  so  great  was  the  infatuation  of  my 
mother,  that  she  actually  seemed  to  rejoice  that  the  affair 
was  consummated.  She  said  it  was  their  duty  to  lay  all 
their  possessions  at  the  apostles'  feet,  as  in  the  days  of  the 
primitive  Church  ;  and  that  whoever  kept  anything  back, 
would  risk  meeting  the  doom  of  Ananias  and  Sapphira.  To 
my  reasonings  she  turned  a  deaf  ear  ;  she  was  insensible  to 
my  entreaties  ;  and  so  great  was  the  influence  held  bj  the 
priesthood  over  her,  that  I  verily  believe  she  regarded  me, 
her  son,  as  her  direst  enemy.  I  left  them — in  sorrow  more 
than  in  anger.  What  else  could  I  do  ? 


A  SAD  HISTOET.  145 

"  After  that,  though  I  wrote  frequently  to  them,  I  never 
received  a  word  in  answer.  At  length,  vacation  came,  and 
I  went  back,  my  heart  burning  with  affectionate  desires. 
Strangers  occupied  the  mansion  where  we  had  passed  so 
many  happy  hours  ;  and  my  aged  parents,  I  was  told,  had 
removed  with  the  Mormons.  I  wept  like  a  child,  and  my 
greatest  sorrow  was  for  the  loss  of  their  affection. 

"  Two  years  elapsed.  I  had  heard  nothing  from  my 
parents,  and  began  to  mourn  them  as  dead,  when  a  letter 
reached  me,  superscribed  from  the  valley  of  the  Great  Salt 
Lake.  1  broke  the  seal  with  a  trembling  hand.  It  was 
from  my  mother ;  and  such  a  revelation  as  it  made  I  What 
harrowing'  anxiety  was  depicted  in  every  line  I  What  bitter 
remorse  and  agonizing  self-reproach  I  Finally,  she  conjured 
me,  as  her  first-born  and  only  child,  to  come  to  her,  saying 
that  she  only  waited  to  behold  me  once  more,  and  then 
dose  her  eyes  to  the  earth  and  its  misery  I 

"Of  my  father  she  said  nothing,  and  I  could  but  won- 
der at  her  silence.  I  knew  the  perfect  confidence  that 
had  so  long  existed  between  them,  and  how  fully  each  had 
endorsed  the  other's  sentiments  ;  and  I  felt  apprehensive 
lest  a  great  gulf  had  opened  between  them,  in  some  unac- 
countable way.  However,  my  mother's  appeal  was  not 
suffered  to  go  unheeded.  I  made  immediate  preparations 
for  joining  them,  and,  after  many  difficulties  and  dangers, 
reached  their  abode.  They  were  tenanted  in  a  miserable 
hut,  with  few  of  the  comforts  and  none  of  the  luxuries  of 
life.  My  father,  in  his  old  age,  had  actually  been  obliged 


14:6  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

to  work  by  the  day  for  wages,  and  my  mother  to  beg  wash- 
ing of  the  soldiers,  to  obtain  their  daily  food — they,  who 
all  their  lives  had  been  above  necessity  or  want  1 

"  But  this  was  not,  by  any  means,  the  greatest  misfortune 
of  my  poor  mother.  A  few  months  had  donp  the  work  of 
years  on  her  frame.  Instead  of  the  round,  full,  red  cheeks, 
like  ripe  winter-apples,  her  face  was  shrunken  and  withered  ; 
her  hands  trembled,  as  if  with  palsy  ;  and  her  eye  had  a 
gleam  and  glitter  that  made  me  fear  for  her  intellect.  We 
had  sat  a  short  half-hour  together,  when  a  coarse,  red-faced 
woman,  with  a  flannel  night-cap  on  her  head,  came  in,  and 
seemed  perfectly  at  home.  When  she  went  out,  I  inquired, 
*  Does  that  woman  live  with  you  ? ' 

" '  Yes/ 

"  '  In  what  capacity  ?' 

"  Her  lips  quivered,  her  whole  frame  trembled,  and  her 
eyes  filled  with  tears.  It  was  some  moments  before  she 
could  reply,  and  then  imagine  my  horror  and  astonishment 
on  hearing  that  she  was  my  father's  second  wife.  With 
tears  streaming  down  her  face,  and  her  voice  broken  by 
sobs,  she  went  on  to  narrate  how  this  ugly,  greasy  specimen 
of  womanhood  had  been  formerly  attached  to  the  harem  of 
a  priest,  where  she  kept  the  whole  house  in  an  uproar.  He 
determined  to  get  rid  of  her,  and  so  persuaded  my  kind- 
hearted  parent  that  it-  was  his  duty  to  take  her.  The  old 
man  hesitated,  and  asked  time  for  deliberation.  The  next 
morning,  she  came  to  his  house,  and  took  up  her  abode, 
where  she  soon  usurped  all  authority.  My  mother  could 


A   SAD   HISTOKY.  147 

not  even  have  the  privilege  of  making  a. cup  of  coffee  with- 
out the  jade's  permission,  and  had  more  than  once  been 
subjected  to  the  indignity  of  blows,  in  her  moments  of  ill- 
temper.  '  Your  troubles  in  that  respect  are  at  an  end,  dear 
mother/  I  said.  '  I  will  soon  make  the  house  too  hot  to 
hold  her  1 '  She  smiled  sadly. 

"  From  that  moment,  all  power  in  that  dwelling  was 
exercised  by  me  ;  and  though  naturally  averse  to  quarrel- 
ing with  a  woman,  between  this  termagant  and  myself  there 
were  some  exciting  scenes.  My  father  remonstrated.  He 
feared  the  power  of  the  priests,  but  I  did  not.  She  was 
expelled  the  house,  and  went  back  to  her  former  lord. 

"  But  my  mother  never  recovered  her  serenity  of  mind, 
or  physical  health  ;  and  the  most  that  I  could  do  was  to 
smooth  her  passage  to  the  tomb.  I  had  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  her  eyes  were  opened  to  the  iniquities  of  the 
Mormon  system  ;  and  it  was  painful  to  hear  her,  on  the 
verge  of  the  grave,  lament  that  she  had  left  her  '  first  love/ 
like  those  mentioned  in  the  Revelations — that  she  had  not 
been  content  to  leave  '  the  first  principles  of  the  doctrines  of 

Christ,  and  travel  on  towards  perfection/  but  had  turned 

«- 

aside  in  the  bye-paths  which,  she  now  believed,  led  to  tem- 
poral misery  and  eternal  death.  She  pined  for  the  society 
of  her  old  friends,  especially  for  that  of  the  pastor  who  had 
broken  for  her,  in  former  days,  the  bread  of  life.  Her 'last 
words  were  full  of  Christian  hope  and  trust — '  Behold  the 
Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world/ 
"  No  Mormon  priest  officiated  at  her  funeral.  I  would 


148  THE   HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

not  have  her  remains  so  desecrated.  Neither  would  I  per- 
mit her  to  be  buried  in  their  cemetery.  I  selected  the  spot 
myself,  and  caused  a  suitable  monument  to  be  erected,  as  a 
record  of  her  worth." 

"  And  your  father  " 

''  Is  nearly  superannuated,  and  almost  imbecile  ;  and  that 
hateful  woman  is  the  torment  of  my  life.  She  persists  in 
visiting  him  ;  and  the  elder,  her  pretended  husband,  encour- 
ages her  in  making  the  most  scandalous  advances.  He 
seems  determined  to  billet  her  on  us  for  support." 

He  concluded  by  inviting  me  to  visit  his  father.  I  con- 
sented, and  we  walked  back  to  the  city  in  company. 

"  I  have  reason  to  believe,"  said  Frederick,  "  that  the 
history  of  my  parents  is  not  a  solitary  one.  Events  as 
tragic,  interesting,  and  thrilling,  have  probably  transpired 
in  all  the  families  around  us;  though  unseen,  and  even  unsus- 
pected, by  the  uninitiated." 

As  we  approached  the  cabin,  a  dirty,  slattern-like  woman, 
with  a  small  bundle  under  her  arm,  darted  from  the  door, 
and  ran  off  down  the  street. 

"  There  she  goes,"  said  Frederick.  "  She  knows  better 
than  to  let  me  catch  her  in  the  house  !  I'd  like  to  know, 
though,  what  she  has  been  carrying  off." 

"  Carrying  off — does  she  steal  ?"  I  inquired. 

"To  be  sure,  she  does  1  She  had  been  twice  in  the  peni- 
tentiary before  coming  here,  I  have  been  credibly  informed. 
When  I  reproached  her  with  this  crime,  she  had  the  impu- 
dence to  attempt  its  justification,  saying  that  the  earth  and 


FREDERICK'S  FATHER. 


its  fullness  was  created  for  man  in  general,  and  that  one, 
just  as  much  as  another,  had  a  right  to  its  blessings.' 

"'And  so  that  gown  you  have  on  is  as  much  mine  as 
yours,  eh  ?  '  I  inquired. 

"'Yes,  if  you  want  it.  Do  you  want  it?'  she  replied, 
with  an  air  of  the  greatest  insolence,  taking  up,  and  holding 
out  for  display,  her  ragged,  draggled  skirt." 

We  entered  the  cabin. 

"  I  have  brought  you  a  visitor,  father,"  said  Frederick. 

The  old  man  raised  his  head,  and  returned  mysalutation 
with  affability.  He  had  mild,  brown  eyes,  with  such  an 
easy,  guileless  expression  of  countenance,  that  I  doubted 
not  his  complete  subjection  to  the  designs  of  the  impostors. 
Strange  as  it  may  appear,  his  faith  in  Mormonism  was  not 
in  the  least  shaken  ;  and  when  I  commenced  conversing 
with  him,  he  answered  by  exhorting  me  to  come  out  from 
the  world  and  unite  with  the  saints. 

I  inquired  if  his  happiness  had  been  promoted  by  his 
union  with  them,  to  which  he  replied  that,  whether  or  not, 
such  questions  were  irrelevant  to  the  subject  ;  that  they 
were  not  expecting  happiness  here,  and  must  be  contented 
to  cheerfully  bear  minor  trials,  in  consideration  of  the  glori- 
ous consummation  in  prospect. 

The  simple  creature  then  proceeded  to  relate  the  marvels 
and  miracles  that  had  been  wrought  in  favor  of  the  Mor- 
mons. According  to  him,  their  journey  was  attended  with 
events  almost  as  wonderful  and  supernatural  as  that  of  the 
Israelites  when  they  went  up  out  of  Egypt.  Springs  sprang 


150  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

up  in  the  desert  when  they  were  thirsty  ;  herds  of  buffalo 
approached  when  they  were  starving  ;  prowling  Indians  fled 
before  their  faces  ;  and,  to  cap  the  climax,  he  averred  that 
he  had  no  doubt,  had  there  been  a  Jericho  on  the  route,  its 
walls  would  have  fallen  down  at  the  blowing  of  ranis'  horns, 
as  they  did  in  the  days  of  old.  Why  shouldn't  miracles  be 
common  now,  as  they  were  then  ?  Why  shouldn't  they, 
sure  I  Others  than  himself  have  asked  that  question. 

When  I  bade  the  old  man  farewell,  Fredefick  accompa- 
nied me  a  short  distance  towards  my  boarding-house. 

"  You  see  my  father,  what  he  is — a  mere  child. .  I  can- 
not leave  him  to  the  tender  mercies  of  these  creatures. 
Duty,  honor,  filial  affection,  forbid  it.  He  is  weak  and 
imbecile.  Still  he  is  my  father  ;  and  not  till  his  earthly 
pilgrimage  closes,  shall  I  leave  the  Mormon  city." 

I  commended  his  resolution ;  and,  promising  to  call  again, 
arrived  "at  home  in  time  for  dinner. 


A   NEW    WIFE.  151 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

/ 

THE    DINNER A    NEW    WIFE JAUNT   TO    GRANTSVILLE,    AND 

WHAT    I    SAW   THERE,    ETC. 

rpHE  dinner  was  got  up  with  unusual  taste,  and  a  new 
JL  divinity  presided  at  the  table.  She  was  a  little,  neat 
woman,  with  bro.wn  complexion,  and  black  eyes.  Her  mo- 
tions were  quick  and  graceful  ;  and,  flitting  from  thing  to 
thing,  she  strongly  reminded  me  of  Mrs.  Hyde.  Iiikley  was 
highly  pleased,  and  exceedingly  loquacious.  He  laughed 
and  talked,  told  droll  stories  and  humorous  anecdotes, 
pinched  the  lady's  cheek,  and  jogged  my  elbow  in  a  man- 
ner quite  unaccountable.  Hannah  and  Martha  were  invisi- 
ble, but  their  lord  did  not  seem  to  perceive,  much  less  to 
regret  their  absence.  The  children,  too,  had  disappeared, 
and  were,  probably,  at  that  moment  dining  with  their  mam- 
mas, in  another  apartment. 

I  subsequently  learned  the  history  of  this  woman.  It 
was  somewhat  singular.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Car- 
ter, and  she  had  rich  and  highly  respectable- connexions  in 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island.  Sarah,  when  a  child,  was 
chiefly  noted  for  versatility  of  talent  and  changeableness  of 


152  THE   HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

purpose.  In  her  studies,  before  one  science  was  half  mas- 
tered, she  flew  off  to  another.  She  abandoned  French  for 
music,  music  for  crayon-drawing,  and  drawing  for  sculpture. 
She  gave  up  school-teaching  and  became  a  public  lecturer 
on  woman's  rights.  Wearying  of  this,  she  became  a  clair- 
voyant, then  a  spirit-rapper,  and  finally  fetched  up  on  the 
shoals  of  Mormonism.  That  she  was  witty  and  graceful,  no 
one  could  deny,  and  many  would  have  admired  her  style  of 
beauty.  A  Mormon  elder  certainly  did.  He  saw  her  on  the 
ferry-boat  that  plies  between  Jersey  City  and  the  island  of 
Manhattan,  was  struck  with  her  appearance,  and  inquired 
her  name.  Learning  this,  he  presented  himself,  without  the 
ceremony  of  an  introduction,  was  graciously  received,  and 
soon  became  one  of  her  most  devoted  admirers,  though  six 
or  seven  wives  pined  for  his  embraces  at  home.  The  lover 
was  ardent  in  his  protestations,  liberal  in  gifts,  and  the  con 
sequences  of  their  intimacy  soon  became  visible.  At  thi* 
juncture,  he  persuaded  her  to  follow  him  to  Salt  Lake. 
Change  was  her  element,  and  she  consented  ;  but  immedi- 
ately on  their  arrival,  he  abandoned  her.  Among  strangers, 
and  without  resources,  she  became  a  pensioner  on  the  bounty 
of  Parley  Pratt.  Here  Inkley  saw  her,  was  made  acquainted 
with  her  circumstances,  proposed  for  her  hand,  was  accepted, 
and  the  marriage  celebrated — all  in  one  day.  The  next 
morning — the  day  on  which  I  saw  her — he  brought  her 
home,  which  was  the  first  intimation  that  his  other  wives 
had  received  of  the  affair.  They  were  surprised,  but  not 
angry,  and  at  once  abandoned  all  the  house-keeping  arrange- 


DINNER  TALK.  153 

ments  to  her  hands.  She  accepted  the  charge  with  a  very 
good  grace,  and  doubtless  with  the  expectation  of  resigning 
it  in  her  turn  to  another.  She  addressed  me  across  the 
table,  with  great  good-humor,  saying  that  she  was  curious 
to  know  why  I  came  to  Salt  Lake  City. 

Without  waiting  for  my  answer,  Inkley  replied  :  "  The 
same  that  others  come  for,  probably — to  see  and  be  seen. 
Wasn't  that  so,  sir  ?" 

"  Doubtless  that  had  something  to  do  with  my  motives," 
I  replied. 

The  lady  then  launched  into  a  voluble  strain — talked  of 
Mesmerism,  spirit-rapping,  and  woman's  rights — said  that 
Lucy  Stone  was  the  greatest  woman  of  the  age,  that  Mrs. 
Bloomer  deserved  a  monument,  and  Antoinette  Brown  a 
wreath  of  laurel. 

"And  yet  all  these  women  are  in  pursuit  of  an  idea 
rather  than  a  principle,"  I  said.  "  They  cannot  succeed, 
because  they  oppose  nature." 

"  How  oppose  nature  ?"  she  inquired. 

"  Because  man  and  woman  never  advance  side  by  side. 
He  leads  the  way — she  follows.  He  acts  the  tyrant — she 
becomes  the  slave.  He  affects  the  noble  and  godlike — she 
rises  proportionately.  Never  has  woman  opened  a  path  in 
literature,  art,  or  science." 

Inkley  laughed  heartily,  and  the  bride  looked  vexed. 

"  If  anything  were  wanting,"  I  continued,  "  to  prove  how 
completely  woman  is  subjected  by  nature  to  the  caprices  o4 
man,  we  have  a  practical  exemplification  of  it  directly 

7* 


154:  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

before  our  eyes.  How  readily  she  assumes  the  character  he 
destines  for  her  I  How  " 

"  I  do  Dot  understand  you,"  she  said,  interrupting  me. 

"  I  do,"  said  Inkley.  "  I  have  often  thought  of  the  same. 
Many  think  polygamy  degrading  to  women  ;  that  is  unde- 
niable. I  can't  say  that  I  do,  however.  But  whether  it  is 
or  not,  matters  little.  One  thing  is  certain — they  are  impo- 
tent to  resist  it.  Man  wills  it,  and,  whether  she  wishes  it  or 
not,  woman  submits." 

Dinner  being  over,  Mr.  Inkley  informed  me  that  business 
connected  with  the  Church  would  call  him  to  Grantsville, 
and  that  he  expected  to  be  absent  for  several  days.  I  im- 
mediately asked  permission  to  accompany  him,  and  inquired 
for  the  locality  of  that  settlement. 

"About  forty  miles  west,"  he  replied,  and  went  on  to 
impart  considerable  information  connected  with  the  place 
and  its  inhabitants,  which  tended  to  increase  rather  than 
diminish  my  curiosity  and  spirit  of  adventure. 

The  afternoon  was  spent  in  preparations  for  the  projected 
journey.  We  had  a  cold  supper,  and  retired  early,  pur- 
posing to  start  at  daybreak.  In  the  night,  I  was  awakened 
by  a  loud  clap  of  thunder,  and  sensations  similar  to  those 
experienced  in  a  shower-bath.  It  was  raining  violently  ; 
and  the  roof  being  leaky,  and  the  window-casements  loose, 
the  water  dripped  and  drove  in  from  every  quarter,  wetting 
the  bed,  and  standing  in  large  pools  on  the  floor.  The 
night  was  black  as  pitch,  except  the  occasional  gleams  of 
lightning,  followed  instantaneously  by  the  crack  of  thunder, 


A  TEEKIBLE   STORM.  155 

loud  and  terrific  as  if  heaven  and  earth  were  coming 
together.  In  a  pause  of  the  storm,  I  ascertained  that  the 
inmates  of  the  house  were  all  up  and  in  motion.  Once 
there  was  a  loud  crash,  and  fall,  as  of  a  heavy  body  tum- 
bling down  stairs  ;  then  the  suppressed  screams  of  women 
and  children,  and  a  man's  voice,  in  a  softer  key,  caught  my 
ear.  I  arose,  but  my  garments  were  saturated  with  wet. 
Those  protected  by  the  cover  of  my  trunk,  however,  were 
in  a  better  condition.  After  long  searching  in  the  dark,  I 
found  and  put  them  on.  Simultaneous  with  this,  the  house 
was  illumined  by  a  blinding  flash,  of  which  I  took  advan- 
tage, to  rush  out  of  my  room  and  down  the  stairs.  The 
family  were  all  in  the  kitchen  ;  and  a  small  lamp,  burning 
on  the  hearth,  sufficed  to  give  a  view  of  each  blank  and 
terror-stricken  countenance.  The  children  were  weeping, 
the  women  sobbing,  and  all,  except  Sarah,  huddled  together, 
like  a  group  of  frightened  sheep.  She  was  walking  up  and 
down  the  apartment,  wringing  her  hands,  and  making  ges- 
tures of  the  wildest  despair,  while  exclaiming,  "  Oh,  poor 
sinners  1  What  will  become  of  poor  sinners  1  The  day  of 
judgment  has  come  I — the  great  day  of  judgment  1  Oh,  oh  1" 

Seeing  me,  she  cried  out,  "Are  you  ready  to  stand  before 
the  bar  of  the  great  God  ?" 

"  Compose  yourself,  madam,"  I  replied.  "  There  is  no 
occasion  for  all  this  terror.  And  were  it  as  you  say, 
though  vice  has  always  cause  for  fear,  virtue  should  stand 
unblenched  amid  the  ruins  of  the  world." 

V 

"  Poor  sinners  1    Oh,  poor  sinners  1"  she  continued,  shriek- 


156  THE  HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

ing — thus  forcibly  depicting  the  horrors  of  superstition,  an<l 
illustrating  the  fact  that,  whatever  may  be  the  boasted 
knowledge  of  the  age,  weak  minds  will  be  terrified  at  the 
phenomena  of  nature. 

Presently,  the  flashes  came  no  more,  and  the  thunder 
rolled  in  the  distance.  Then  the  clouds  parted — one  great 
body  rolling  off  to  the  eastward,  while  the  other  settled  into 
the  south.  The  moon,  just  sinking  in  the  western  horizon, 
came  out  in  its  mild,  pale  beauty,  and  a  few  stars,  seen  here 
and  there,  glanced  out,  like  the  eyes  of  angels.  Inkley 
remarked  on  the  suddenness  and  violence  of  the  storm,  and 
Sarah,  now  that  it  was  past,  laughed  at  her  unreasonable 
fears.  Then  all  retired  again  to  their  respective  chambers, 
except  myself.  I  was  not  partial  to  a  wet-sheet  pack,  just 
then,  but  stretched  my  limbs  on  a  buffalo-robe,  and  soon  fell 
asleep. 

It  was  that  most  delicious  of  hours,  between  dawn  and 
sunrise,  when  I  awoke.  Hastily  rising,  I  went  out.  The 
air  was  fresh,  delicious,  and  invigorating  ;  but  everywhere 
were  to  be  seen  traces  of  the  last  night's  tempest.  Treea 
and  shrubs  had  been  torn  to  pieces  or  overblown,  fences 
levelled,  and  fields  of  grain  bent  to  the  ground.  In  all  the 
hollows,  pools  of  water  were  gathered,  while  the  streams 
rushed  wild  and  turgid  down  the  declivities.  Hearing  a 
voice  behind  me,  I  turned,  to  meet  the  countenance  of  Ink- 
ley.  He,  too,  had  risen,  and  come  out  to  ascertain  the  state 
of  the  weather.  Considering  this  favorable,  the  women  were 
called  up,  and  immediate  preparations  for  breakfast  made- 


JAUNT  TO   GEANT6YILLE.  157 

This  being  over,  and  our  small  amount  of  baggage  ready, 
we  mounted  a  wagon  with  two  wheels,  exactly  resembling  a 
cart,  except  that  it  was  covered  with  a  coarse  white  cloth, 
drawn  tightly  over  bows,  bent  in  a  half  circle,  and  fastened, 
by  the  ends,  to  the  wagon  sides.  Elder  Lyman  had  talked 
of  going  along — more  for  company,  I  believe,  than  anything 
else.  We  called  first  at  his  house,  and  were  answered,  from 
the  door,  by  a  woman  with  a  blowzy  face,  flaring  from  a 
red  nightcap,  that  the  elder  could  not  travel  in  the  com- 
pany of  Gentiles. 

"  Is  that  all  ?"  inquired  Inkley. 

She  said  that  it  was. 

''Where  is  he?" 

"  In  the  house." 

11  Can  I  see  him  ?" 

She  hesitated  a  moment,  when,  finally,  it  came  out  that 
the  worthy  was  taking  his  morning  snooze. 

"  Let  him  go,  and  be  d — d  1"  said  my  companion,  in  a 
low  voice,  starting  the  mules  into  a  gallop. 

For  two  or  three  miles,  we  moved  on  rapidly,  over  a 
tolerably  good  road  ;  then  the  ground  became  soft,  spongy, 
and,  in  many  places,  decidedly  muddy.  Sometimes  a  deep 
gully  would  intercept  our  progress,  and  sometimes  we  would 
have  to  circumnavigate  a  fallen  tree.  The  jolting  was 
severe  and  incessant,  yet,  as  if  to  make  up  for  this,  the 
whole  scenery  was  perfectly  delightful.  The  day  was  fine — 
not  a  cloud  to  be  seen — and  the  mountains  flashed  their 
summits  in  the  rich  sunlight.  We  passed  around  the  elbow 


158  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

of  the  mountain  range,  on  the  lower  steppe  of  which  the 
city  is  built,  and  went  directly  north — first  by  the  warm 
springs,  which  furnish  to  visitors  the  luxury  of  a  bath,  and 
then  by  the  hot  springs,  of  which  the  ascending  vapor  is 
such  a  remarkable  addition  to  the  scenery. 

After  a  time,  the  road  diverged  to  the  left,  and  some 
very  pretty  farm-houses,  surrounded  by  fields  of  grain, 
appeared  in  view.  Mr.  Inkley  stopped  at  one  of  these, 
leaving  me  in  the  wagon,  to  hold  the  mules,  with  the  posi- 
tive assurance  that  he  would  be  back  in  five  minutes,  though 
his  stay  was  prolonged  to  an  hour.  He  returned  to  the 
wagon,  evidently  pleased  with  the  success  of  his  visit. 

"  Very  nice  place,  sir,"  he  began.  "  Nice  people,  too, 
sir — very  nice  ;  though  sister  Laton  appeared  rather  down- 
cast. She  finds  it  hard  to  conform  to  the  rules  of  our 
faith — very  hard,  sir.  But,  as  I  told  her,  'no  cross,  no 
crown.' n 

Mr.  Inkley  interlarded  his  conversation  with  expletives,  at 
certain  times  ;  at  others  he  did  not. 

"  What  is  it  that  she  finds  so  hard  ?"  I  questioned, 
excusing  myself,  mentally,  for  such  a  breach  of  etiquette, 
by  remembering  that  Inkley  loved  to  tell  news  quite  as  well 
as  any  one  could  delight  to  hear  it. 

"  The  fact  is,  sir,  that  brother  Laton  has  been  seriously 
exercised  about  taking  another  wife.  He  knows  very  well 
that  it  is  his  duty,  but  hitherto,  from  respect  to  the  preju- 
dices of  his  first  wife,  has  neglected  it.  The  case  went 
before  the  church,  and  the  council  of  elders  decided  that,  to 


FEMALE  "HELP"  DANGEROUS.  159 

ensure  his  salvation  and  that  of  his  family,  he  must  conform 
in  all  things  to  the  requirements  of  our  faith." 

"And  Mrs.  Laton" 

"  Fainted  away  when  informed  of  that  decision." 

"  Who  is  the  candidate  for  promotion  ?" 

"  The  hired  girl,  I  believe,"  he  answered,  with  all  the 
coolness  imaginable.  "Brother  Laton  was  much  affected 
by  the  distress  of  his  wife,  and  it  required  all  the  arguments 
I  could  bring,  backed  by  the  influence  of  the  church,  to 
strengthen  his  resolution." 

"  What  did  the  girl  say  ?" 

"  Oh,  nothing.  Mrs.  Laton  was  an  Eastern  woman,  and 
very  proud.  I  suppose  it  cuts  close  to  have  a  servant  ele- 
vated to  an  equality  with  herself.  But  the  proud  shall  be 
brought  low,  and  the  humble  exalted— such  is  the  language 
of  Scripture." 

"  When  is  Laton  to  marry  his  second  wife  ?" 

"  Next  week.  Her  bridal  robes  have  been  ready  for 
some  •  time." 

"  It  must  be  dangerous,  in  Utah,  to  have  a  hired  girl  !" 

"  Rather  I"  he  replied,  laughing,  and  the  subject  was 
dropped. 

For  the  remainder  of  the  day,  we  journeyed  over  a  good 
road,  along  the  lake — the  ascending  vapor  of  the  hot-spring 
hanging  like  a  thin  veil  of  gauze  at  the  base  of  the  moun- 
tains, and  the  city  dimly  visible  in  the  rear.  This,  however, 
entirely  faded  from  view  as  we  descended  into  the  valley  of 
the  Weber,  and  paused  to  rest,  in  one  of  the  loveliest  spots 


160  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

imaginable.  Here  the  mules  were  unharnessed,  and  left  to 
feed  on  the  rich  grass,  while  we  sat  beneath  the  cooling 
shade  of  some  very  handsome  trees,  or  strolled,  in  search  of 
wild  flowers  and  odd-looking  pebbles,  along  the  margin  of  the 
Stream.  The  banks  were  exceedingly  steep  and  precipitous, 
and  the  water  coursed  along  with  the  rapidity  of  a  race- 
horse. 

We  crossed  the  Weber  on  a  bridge,  and  then  we  had  a 
rough  and  troublesome  causeway  of  brush  and  poles  for 
half  a  mile,  through  a  wet  piece  of  ground.  I  had  heard 
this  place  mentioned,  previously,  as  very  dangerous,  in 
miring  animals  ;  but  the  falling  of  the  river,  and  some 
repairs,  enabled  us  to  pass  it  in  perfect  safety. 

Thus  far  we  had  been  on  the  regular  California  route, 
and  I  was  loth  to  leave  the  well-beaten  road  for  the 
scarcely  perceptible  Indian  trail  which  Inkley  said  led  to 
Grantsville,  the  place  of  our  destination.  Making  a  virtue 
of  necessity,  however,  we  turned  off,  over  a  rough  piece  oi 
ground,  and  descended  the  valley  of  the  stream,  amidst  a 
labyrinth  of  mountains,  irregular  highlands,  and  frightful 
gorges,  which  it  would  be  quite  impossible  to  describe.  I 
no  longer  wondered  that  so  many  travellers,  hunters,  and 
emigrant  trains  had  become  lost,  in  their  long  wandering 
among  the  mysterious  passes.  I  even  began  to  fear  that 
the  same  calamity  would  befall  us,  and  hinted  as  much  to 
Inkley,  who  laughed,  and  said  that  there  was  no  danger. 

Of  all  countries,  it  seems  to  me  that  Utah  is  most  lonely 
and  desolate — most  destitute  of  animal  life.  Mountains 


CAMPING-OUT.  161 

generally  are  the  resort  of  game.  With  the  single  excep- 
tion of  wild  fowl,  there  is  very  little  here.  You  may  travel 
a  whole  day  without  hearing  the  voice  of  a  solitary  bird. 
The  buffalo  never  leave  the  prairies  ;  the  Rocky-Mountain 
goats  are  scarce,  and  chiefly  inhabit  farther  north  ;  grizzly 
bears  are  seldom  seen,  and  rarely  caught ;  but  a  species  of 
small  rabbit  abounds,  in  great  plenty,  and  the  grasshoppers 
in  summer  are  almost  a  match  for  the  locusts  of  Egypt. 

Our  animals  had  become  so  weary  that  we  concluded  to 
halt  for  the  night,  when  two-thirds  of  our  journey  was 
accomplished.  Our  camping-ground  was  a  beautiful  valley, 
carpeted  with  herbage,  and  watered  by  a  clear,  cool  stream, 
a  tributary  of  the  Weber.  Our  wagon  contained  plenty  of 
eatables,  which  were  brought  out  at  sunset,  and  we  had  a 
cold  but  delicious  supper  ;  for  a  good  appetite  gave  it  zest. 

Inkley,  as  usual,  talked  vivaciously,  and  praised  every- 
thing, even  to  the  luxury  of  a  hard  bed  on  the  bottom  of 
the  wagon.  Slumber  readily  comes  to  weariness,  and  I  fell 
asleep,  dreaming  of  vagabonds  and  Indians.  Our  repose 
was  undisturbed.  We  were  up  by  daylight,  and,  having 
untethered  the  mules,  let  them  range  two  hours,  for  pas- 
ture, previous  to  resuming  our  journey.  The  remains  of 
our  supper  served  for  breakfast ;  and,  having  dispatched 
this,  we  were  soon  ready  for  a  start. 

There  is  a  certain  sameness  connected  with  this  scenery 
that  wearies  the  most  ardent  lover  of  nature.  The  mind 
wearies  of  sublimity — the  eye  becomes  tired  of  resting  on 
the  great  and  grand.  Rocks,  mountains,  rivers,  precipices, 


162  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

torrents,  gorges,  though  ever  varying  in  shape,  size,  and 
magnificence,  possess  the  same  general  characteristics. 

1  was  really  glad  when  the  road  diverged  into  a  pleasant 
valley,  and  the  village  we  sought  appeared  in  the  distance, 
though  seeming  little  better  than  a  camping-ground  of  sav- 
ages. It  was  simply  a  collection  of  huts,  built  in  wigwam 
fashion,  with  few  of  the  appurtenances  or  appearances  of 
civilization.  The  nearer  we  approached,  the  more  conspicu- 
ous became  these  features,  until  I  could  scarcely  persuade 
myself  that  I  was  approaching  a  Christianized  community. 

"  Is  that  Grants ville  ?"  I  inquired,  with  some  surprise. 

"  It  is,"  returned  by  guide. 

"  Then  all  I  have  to  say  is,  that  report  has  spoken  better 
of  it  than  it  deserves." 

"  I  hardly  think  so,"  he  replied.  "  There  is  a  flourishing 
church,  chiefly  composed  of  converted  savages  and  half- 
breeds  ;  and  it  could  hardly  be  expected  that  they  would 
assume  at  once  all  the  peculiarities  of  civilized  life." 

I  assented  to  this,  not  without  wondering  how  many  vices 
of  which  they  were  previously  innocent,  had  been  engrafted, 
with  this  religious  system,  on  their  simple,  unsophisticated 
natures.  They  were  certainly  the  most  impudent  and  un- 
mannerly creatures  I  ever  beheld.  Noticing  our  approach, 
they  came  rushing  out  to  meet  us,  surrounded  the  wagon, 
clambered  up  the  sides,  pillaged  the  remnants  of  our  food, 
and  actually  began  to  examine  the  contents  of  our  baggage, 
begging,  all  the  while,  in  a  whining,  abject  tone,  for  beads 
and  trinkets.  Inkley,  in  a  loud  voice,  and-  with  a  flourish  of 


OCCUPATIONS   OF   THE   WOMEN.  163 

his  whip,  commanded  them  to  desist,  and,  showing  a  small 
silver  coin,  declared  that  he  would  give  it  to  the  one  who 
should  first  inform  the  elder  of  our  arrival.  That  was  a 
sufficient  inducement,  and  off  they  all  ran — men,  women, 
and  children — helter-skelter,  whooping  and  shouting,  and 
each  one  trying  to  outstrip  his  companions,  while  we 
brought  up  the  rear  at  a  moderately  slow  pace. 

I  saw,  at  a  glance,  that  Indian  blood  greatly  predomi- 
nated in  the  population.  They  were  athletic  fellows,  but 
vagabonds,  to  a  man.  They  had  no  regular  occupation, 
but  fished  a  little,  hunted  a  little,  and  smoked  and  lounged 
a  great  deal.  After  the  usual  fashion  of  savages,  the 
women  performed  the  labor.  Several  were  out  in  the 
fields,  hoeing  or  weeding  small  patches  of  maize  ;  and  we 
passed  by  a  place  where  two  women  were  busily  engaged 
in  building  a  hut,  a  man  standing  by,  apparently  giving 
directions,  and  overseeing  the  work.  He  nodded  familiarly, 
and  with  an  air  of  great  satisfaction,  to  my  companion. 

"  Are  you  acquainted  with  that  fellow  ?"  I  asked. 

Inkley  replied  that  he  was. 

**  And  who  are  those  women  under  his  command  ?" 

"  His  wives.  He  married  them  last  week,  both  at  a  time, 
so  that  neither  could  claim  precedence.  They  seem  to  be 
building  a  house." 

In  consideration  of  my  hearers,  I  forbore  the  expression 
of  contempt  that  was  rising  to  my  throat. 

Still  further  on,  a  woman  was  plowing,  with  a  very  stub- 
born mule,  that  ga,ve  her  an  infinite  deal  of  trouble,  to  the 


THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

great  amusement  of  the  loungers  ;  and  many  others  were 
feeding  the  hogs  or  cattle,  working  in  their  small  gardens,  or 
performing  similar  labors — the  men  loafing  around,  as  uncon- 
cerned spectators. 

Their  singularity  of  appearance  was  greatly  heightened 
by  grotesqueness  of  apparel.  Many  of  the  women  had  on 
men's  hats  and  coats,  and  some  had  even  put  on  the  worn- 
out  and  cast-off  breeches  of  hunters  and  travellers,  which 
were  much  too  large  for  them.  The  children  were  keen, 
bright-looking  little  creatures,  nearly  nude,  and  with  an 
expression  of  countenance  and  agility  of  motion  strongly 
reminding  one  qf  the  young  of  wild  animals.  I  was  all  eyes 
and  ears,  till  the  wagon  drew  up  before  a  building  differing 
little  from  the  rest,  though  somewhat  superior. 

"  Does  the  elder  live  here  ?"  I  inquired. 

The  answer  was  affirmative,  with  a  wonder  that  he 
didn't  show  himself,  followed  by  the  exclamation,  "  Here  he 
comes." 

A  man,  evidently  a  half-breed,  with  a  face  the  color  of 
some  rich,  ripe  berry,  made  his  appearance,  and  bowed  with 
such  a  ludicrous  air  to  Inkley,  that  I  could  not  forbear 
laughing.  He  had  been  drinking,  which  rendered  his  idio- 
matic pronunciation  more  harsh  and  guttural. 

"  He  good  fellow,  broder,"  he  began.  *'  Turn  in  ;  turn 
in.  Gad  to  see  you,"  aiid  he  made  a  step  forward,  to  meet 
us,  when,  his  toe  coming  in  contact  with  something  on  the 
floor,  he  lost  his  equilibrium,  and  fell  prostrate.  The  noise 
brought  out  two  women.  Without  noticing  us,  they  seized 


1C5 


their  lord,  and  bore  him,  notwithstanding  his  struggles  to 
the  contrary,  into  the  cabin. 

"What  shall  we  do  ?"  said  I,  not  relishing  the  idea  of  a 
drunken  Indian  host. 

"  Get  out,  and  go  in,  of  course,"  said  Inkley,  leaping 
from  the  wagon. 

I  followed  his  example,  and,  after  hitching  the  mules  to  a 
low  stockade  fence,  we  gathered  up  our  baggage,  and 
entered  the  house,  with  a  great  train  of  men,  women,  and 
children  at  our  heels.  Such  a  motley  set  I  never  saw 
before,  and  hope  never  to  see  again.  They  were  pushing, 
jamming,  crowding,  and  trampling  on  each  other,  with  the 
manifest  intention  of  getting  at  us  and  our  baggage.  The 
word  "swap"  was  continually  on  their  tongues.  First  one 
and  then  another  would  grab  at  some  article  of  my  clothing, 
and,  pulling  it  violently,  would  call  out,  "  Swap  ?"  Some 
of  the  women  were  actually  determined  to  have  my  vest, 
whether  or  not  ;  and,  with  great  want  of  discretion,  I  dis- 
played ra;  pocket-handkerchief,  by  wiping  my  face  with  it. 
Its  briglii  color  instantly  attracted  attention,  and  one,  more 
,  bold  than  tihe  others,  snatched  it  from  my  hands,  and  made 
off  with  it,  leaving  me  to  the  consolation  of  thinking  that 
the  gang  thereby  was  numerically  weakened. 

After  being  made  to  understand  that  we  could  not  and 
would  not  "  swap,"  they  became  curious  to  know  what  we 
possessed.  Our  refusal  to  gratify  their  curiosity  only  in- 
creased it,  and,  as  a  last  resort,  we  unrolled  our  bundles, 
carefully  separating,  shaking  out,  and  holding  up  each  arti 


166  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

cle  they  contained,  so  that  all  might  obtain  a  full  view.  A 
grunt  of  pleasure  announced  their  satisfaction  ;  and,  after  a 
long  time  and  much  persuasion,  they  were  induced  to  dis- 
perse. While  this  was  going  on,  our  Mormon  dignitary 
overcame  his  drunkenness  sufficiently  to  sit  up,  and  signify 
by  gestures  and  an  unintelligible  lingo,  his  deep  anxiety  to 
become  possessed  of  our  things.  As  I  watched  his  coun- 
tenance, and  noted  the  villainous  expression  of  his  eye,  I 
really  began  to  be  apprehensive  for  our  safety,  notwith- 
standing his  sacerdotal  character. 

Three  wives  and  seven  children  composed  the  family  of 
this  nondescript,  and  all  w^ere  huddled  in  this  little  cabin, 
with  a  dirty  stable  in  the  rear.  One  of  the  women,  evi- 
dently the  oldest,  and  apparently  mistress  of  the  establish- 
ment, invited  Inkley  to  drive  his  mules  around  under  the 
shelter,  where  she  said  they  could  stand  in  perfect  security. 
While  he  was  attending  to  them,  the  Indian  elder  became 
drowsy,  with  the  fumes  of  intoxication.  His  head  swayed 
to  and  fro,  like  a  reed  shaken  by  the  wind  ;  and  he  began 
muttering  and  spluttering,  in  a  style  unintelligible  to  me, 
but  which  occasioned  great  merriment  to  his  wives.  The 
youngest  of  these,  going  up  beside  him,  gave  him  a  push 
that  completely  upset  his  centre  of  gravity,  and  tumbled 
him  on  the  floor.  In  another  moment  he  was  sound  asleep. 

It  will  readily  be  believed  that  this  cabin  was  in  a  state 
of  great  filth,  dirt,  and  confusion.  What  else  could  be 
expected,  or  who  could  have  been  neat  in  such  a  place  ?  A 
dog-kennel,  in  one  corner  of  the  hut,  was  swarming  with 


DISGUSTING   FOOD.  167 

inhabitants  ;  and  while  I  sat,  looking  around,  the  mistress 
approached,  seized  one  of  the  puppies  by  the  hind  legs,  and 
deliberately  proceeded  to  knock  out  its  brains  against  the 
wall.  I  turned  away  ray  head,  overpowered  by  a  sickening 
sensation  ;  and  when  I  looked  again,  it  was  skinned  and 
dressed.  The  prejudices  of  civilization  were  strong  within 
me,  and,  with  emotions  of  intense  disgust,  I  saw  her  thrust 
it  into  a  pot,  with  water,  kindle  a  fire  beneath  it,  and  under- 
stood at  once  that  it  was  designed  for  our  supper.  Her 
motions  were  not  lost  on  Inkley.  He  went  to  her,  and, 
with  the  significance  of  words  and  gestures,  succeeded  in 
making  her  understand  that  we  had  brought  provisions 
with  us,  and  consequently  did  not  require  her  hospitality. 
With  a  nod,  she  pointed  to  the  children — as  much  as  to  say 
that  they  would  need  it. 

We  slept  in  our  wagon  again  that  night,  and  by  morning 
our  Indian  host  had  become  sufficiently  sober  to  enter  on 
the  business  of  the  church.  These  Mormon  settlements,  as 
auxiliaries  and  branches  of  the  mother  establishment  iu 
Zion,  are  subject  to  her  government  and  supervision.  Brig- 
ham  Young,  as  supreme  pontiff,  provides  each  one  with  a 
presiding  bishop  or  elder,  whose  duty  it  is  to  render  a 
monthly  account  of  all  the  affairs  connected  with  his  spirit- 
ual jurisdiction — the  number  of  births,  marriages,  and  con- 
verts ;  the  amount  of  tithes  ;  and  other  matters  in  general. 
With  an  appearance  of  great  sincerity,  the  Indian — or, 
rather,  half-breed — praised  the  zeal  manifested  by  the  male 
members  of  his  flock,  which  had  run  rampant  to  marry  and 


168  THE   HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

give  in  marriage,  till  not  a  single  woman  could  be  fonnd  in 
the  neighborhood.  Several  times  he  spoke  of  divorces,  in 
connection  with  these  marriages  ;  and  I  ascertained,  on 
inquiry,  that  the  transferrence,  or  exchange,  of  wives,  was 
nothing  uncommon — that  is,  a  woman  would  be  divorced, 
by  the  church,  from  her  husband,  with  the  express  under- 
standing that  she  should  marry  another  man.  He  said  that 
scarcely  a  day  occurred  in  which  he  was  not  called  upon  to 
solemnize  such  connections,  and  that  he  believed  the  want 
of  money  to  pay  for  it,  prevented  many  more  such  matches 
from  taking  place. 

While  we  were  conversing,  a  couple  came  into  the  cabin, 
though  whether  Indians,  or  half-breeds,  it  would  be  difficult 
to  say.  They  were  clasping  each  other's  hands,  and  seemed 
very  loving.  The  man  stepped  up  to  the  elder,  and  whis- 
pered something  to  him  which  I  could  not  hear,  displaying, 
at  the  same  time,  a  small  silver  coin,  in  the  palm  of  his 
hand. 

"  Nodder  wife,  eh  ?"  said  the  Indian  priest,  with  a  grin. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  transcribe  their  language,  but  I 
learned  that  the  wives  of  this  fellow  having  all  deserted  him 
for  other  men,  he  had  begun  taking  a  new  stock.  Not 
being  particularly  interested  in  their  affairs,  I  strolled  out 
for  a  walk,  and,  by  going  around  the  back  way,  and  keep- 
ing out  of  sight  as  much  as  possible,  managed  to  avoid 
having  a  crowd  at  my  heels.  Descending  into  a  small  val- 
ley on  the  eastern  side  of  the  village,  by  an  Indian  trail,  I 
was  greatly  surprised  to  see  a  large  emigrant  wagon,  with 


A  FAMILY   OF  EMIGRANTS.  169 

six  oxen  quietly  feeding  on  the  luscious  pasture,  while  an 
elderly  man,  a  young  woman,  and  three  children,  were  sit- 
ting and  lying  around,  in  various  attitudes.  They  were 
busily  talking. 

"  How  I  want  to  get  away  from  here  I"  said  the  old  man. 
"  So  do  I,"  answered  his  companion. 
"  I  hope  none  of  the  fellows  up  yonder  will  discover  us. 
They  are  very  devils,  and  I  shouldn't  feel  safe  a  momert  if 
they  knew  we  were  here." 
"  Nor  I  either." 

"  Do  you  think  they  would  kill  us  ?"  inquired  one  of  the 
children. 

"  Don't  know.  Can't  say.  Like  as  not,"  replied  the 
man. 

I  coughed  slightly,  to  attract  their  attention*.  They 
started,  looked  towards  me,  and  said  no  more.  I  ap- 
proached nearer,  and  addressed  them.  The  old  man  had  a 
thin,  withered,  and  very  brown  face,  with  a  speaking  twinkle 

in  his  eye.     He  was  dressed  in  clothes  of  the  Quaker  cut 

4 

and  color — a  broad-brimmed,  low-crowned,  grey-colored 
hat,  white  cotton  shirt,  open  in  front,  and  without  cra- 
vat, a  long-skirted,  snuff-colored  coat,  of  coarse  home- 
spun, short  trowsers,  of  blue  drilling,  and  heavy  cowhide 
shoes. 

"  Good  morning,  friend,"  I  said. 

"  Good  morning,"  he  answered,  surveying  me,  at  the  same 
jme,  from  top  to  toe. 

The  examination  was  probably  satisfactory  ;  for  his  coun- 
8 


170  THE   HUSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

tenance  brightened,  and  he  inquired  the  time  of  day.  I 
gave  it  to  him,  when  he  continued  the  conversation — 

"  Right  warm  weather." 

"  It  is,  indeed." 

"  And  flies  swarming  like  bees." 

"  Yes." 

"  Going  to  California  ?" 

"  I  shall  probably  fetch  up  there,  though,  at  present,  I 
am  staying  at  Salt  Lake." 

"  Come  from  the  East  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  What  State  ?" 

"  I  have  been  a  resident  of  several  States." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  here  ?" 

"  Two  or  three  months." 

"  Reckon  you  ain't  a  Mormon  ?" 

"  Why  so  ?" 

"Because  ye  don't  look  like  one.  I  can  always  tell  a 
Mormon,  when  I  see  one.  They  carry  the  mark  of  the 
beast." 

"  Father  !"  interposed  the  woman. 

He  looked  at  me,  inquiringly. 

"  You  have  guessed  rightly,"  I  said.  "  I  am  not  a  Mor- 
mon, and  never  shall  be." 

"  Then  what  are  you  doing  here  ?" 

"  Looking  around." 

"  Well,  if  you've  seen  much  worth  seeing,  you've  had 
better  luck  than  I  have  had,"  he  replied. 


A    TEMPTING    INVITATION.  171 

The  woman  laughed,  shrugged  her  shoulders,  and  said, 
"Whether  you've  seen  much  or  not,  you  have  found  out 
some  things." 

"  I'm  bio  wed,  but  I  know  that  I've  found  out  that  the 
Mormons,  with  few  and  rare  exceptions,  are  damned  rascals  1 
There  1  now  I've  said  it.  But  you  won't  tell  ?" 

"  I  certainly  shall  not." 

"  You'd  better  go  on  with  us." 

"  I  rather  think  not." 

"  Yes,  you  had.     My  daughter  there  is  a  widow." 

"  Ah,  indeed." 

The  young  woman  blushed  scarlet,  and  tears  sprang  to 
her  eyes  as  she  ejaculated,  "  Oh,  father  1" 

"  But  that's  of  no  account,"  he  continued.  "  I'm  a 
widower.  My  wife,  and  her  husband,  both  died  since  we 
commenced  our  journey.  I  buried  them  both,  with  my  own 
hands,  on  the  prairie.  I  only  hope  that  the  wolves  haven't 
found  their  graves." 

These  remarks  might  have  seemed  heartless,  and  yet 
there  was  something  in  his  manner  that  indicated  feeling, 
rather  than  the  want  of  it.  His  daughter  began  to  weep. 

"  Whence  have  you  come  ?" 

"  All  the  way  from  Ohio." 

"  Alone  ?" 

"Not  all  the  way.  We  started  in  company  with  some 
Mormons.  I  didn't  know  them,  then,  as  I  do  now,  or  I 
would  have  as  soon  undertaken  the  journey  with  Old 


172  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

Scratch  himself.     I've  not  a  particle  of  doubt  that  all  my 
misfortunes  were  owing  to  them." 

"  Think  so  ?" 

"  Stranger,  I  know  it !  .  You  see,  my  wife  was  glib  of 
tongue,  without  the  least  bit  of  deceit.  She  couldn't  and 
wouldn't  put  up  with  all  their  vile  practices.  She  couldn't 
bear  to  see  the  women  so  free  with  the  men,  and  the  men  so 
fond  of  the  women,  and  she  would  and  did  say  it.  I  used 
to  caution  her  against  exciting  their  ill-will,  but  it  did  no 
good.  She  had  no  fear  ;  and  you  might  better  attempt  to 
bridle  the  wind,  than  a  woman's  tongue." 

"  How  can  you  talk  so,  father  !"  said  the  woman. 

"  There  was  a  young  girl  in  our  company,  the  daughter 
of  a  widow  considered  rich,  and  certainly  beautiful.  She 
was  a  great  favorite  with  the  elder,  who,  though  possessing 
several  wives  already,  made  a  formal  proposal  for  her  hand. 
A  young  hunter,  from  Illinois,  not  a  Mormon,  was  likewise 
her  suitor.  My  wife — who  must  have  a"  say  in  everything — 
favored  his  pretensions,  and  attempted  to  dissuade  the  girl 
from  marrying  the  detestable  polygamist.  The  elder  said 
little.  Had  he  said  more,  I  should  have  feared  him  less. 
Your  talkers  give  vent  to  their  auger,  and  that's  the  end  of 
it ;  but  your  silent,  plotting  men — beware  of  them  !  I  left 
the  camp,  one  day,  to  hunt ;  but,  somehow,  I  didn't  feel 
right,  and  went  back,  long  before  night.  I  found  my 
daughter  vainly  trying  to  soothe  the  dying  agonies  of  her 
mother  and  husband,  who  were  both  writhing  in  strong  con- 


A  MORMON'S  VILLAINY.  173 

'vulsions.     I  knew,  instinctively,  -that  they  were  poisoned, 
and  inquired  what  they  had  been  eating. 

"  '  Nothing  but  some  fruit/ 

"  '  And  the  fruit — where  did  it  come  from  V 

"  They  found  it.  It  was  such  as  we  had  all  eaten.  It 
could  not  be  the  fruit.  So  they  all  said  ;  but  I  knew  bet- 
ter. It  was  plain  to  me  as  a  book.  They  died  that  night. 
The  next  morning  their  flesh,  spotted  with  black  and  green, 
confirmed  my  suspicion.  Think  you,  after  that,  I  would 
travel  in  their  company  a  moment  longer  ?  Not  1 1  We 
waited  till  they  were  gone,  and  then  came  on  alone." 

"  But  the  girl — did  she  marry  the  elder  ?" 

"Oh,  I  don't  know,  but  I  expect  so." 

He  then  informed  me  that  he  had  mistaken  the  way, 
because  he  refused  to  inquire  of  the  Mormons,  or  have  any 
intercourse  with  them. 

"  And  now,"  he  continued,  when  I  was  preparing  to 
depart,  "don't  tell  them  fellows  that  I  am  down  here.  I 
wouldn't  have  'em  to  know  it  for  any  money.  I  shouldn't 
feel  certain  of  my  life  for  an  hour  longer." 
•  I  promised  to  remain  silent,  as  he  wished.  Then,  inviting 
me  to  visit  him,  if  I  ever  came  to  California,  and  could  find 
where  he  lived,  we  bade  each  other  farewell,  I  believe  with 
mutual  regret.. 


174  THE  HUSBAND   IN  UTAH. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

RETURN — OGDEN'S  CITY,  ETC. 

fTlHE  next  morning,  bright  and  early,  we  started  on  our 
JL  return  route,  which  lay  through  Ogden's  City,  another 
auxiliary  branch  of  the  Mormon  Church.  Inkley  was  very 
conversable,  and  found  something  to  commend,  even  in  the 
detestable  manners  of  the  brutalized  inhabitants  of  Grants- 
ville. 

"  You  should  have  seen  these  people  one  year  ago,  sir — 
one  short  year  ago — and  then  you  might  form  some  estimate 
of  their  advance  in  civilization.  Why,  bless  my  heart  1 
they  were  savages  then — had  little  knowledge  of  a  Creator, 
none  of  a  Saviour,  and,  if  not  exactly  worshipping  idols, 
had  no  regular  attendance  on  public  exercises  of  devotion. 
Yes,  sir,  their  improvement  has  been  little  short  of  mirac- 
ulous." 

Such  a  palpable  and  manifest  misrepresentation  excited 
my  risibility.  He  laughed,  too,  for  company. 

"  My  character  is  original,"  he  began,  after  a  moment's 
silence.  "  I  am  aware  of  that.  Most  people  delight  in 
finding  fault ;  it  is  my  abhorrence.  In  the  ugliest  counte- 


A   FAVORABLE   VIEW.  175 

nance  I  always  look  for,  and  generally  find,  some  redeeming 
feature.  Beneath  the  most  vicious  character,  I  can  detect 
the  similitude  of  virtue.  I  find  something  or  other  to 
praise,  wherever  I  go.  It  may  be  a  little,  still  it  is  some- 
thing, and  it  always  makes  me  feel  better  myself,  and  think 
better  of  my  kind." 

"  And  what  did  you  find  at  Grants ville  ?" 

*'  That  woman's  ready  hospitality  struck  me  as  a  beautiful 
trait." 

I  turned  my  head  aside  at  the  recollection. 

"  You  view  the  subject  altogether  in  a  wrong  light,"  he 
said,  reproachfully.  "  She  was  preparing  for  us  the  best 
that  she  had,  and  what  she  considered  excellent  herself. 
Could  the  most  polished  female  have  done  better  ?  Would 
she  probably  have  done  as  well  ?" 

"  But  what  proofs  of  an  advance  in  civilization  could  you 
discover? — for,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  thought  their  manners 
much  more  disgusting  and  insolent  than  those  of  the  wild, 
untutored  natives." 

"  You  must  make  allowance  for  the  many  foreigners,  of 
all  classes  And  nations,  that  they  are  in  the  habit  of  seeing, 
and  whose  manners  they  insensibly  imbibe.  Ogden's  City, 
however,  is  far  superior.  I  think  you  will  be  pleased  with 
it  and  its  inhabitants." 


176  THE  HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 


O  GD  E  N      C ITY. 

About  five  miles  from  Ogden  City,  we  stopped  at  an 
exquisitely  neat  adobe  house,  standing  a  short  distance  off 
the  road,  with  a  beautiful  pine  in  front  of  it.  The  windows 
were  without  glass,  but  drapery,  of  snowy  muslin,  restrained 
the  currents  of  air,  and  admitted  light.  The  master  of  the 
house,  a  hale,  companionable  fellow,  gave  us  a  gracious 
welcome,  and  his  wife  looked  so  happy,  I  wondered  if  poly- 
gamy could  be  there.  Everything  was  neat ;  nothing  costly. 
Taste,  not  ornament,  had  evidently  been  consulted  in  the 
arrangement  of  the  furniture.  There  was  a  table  that  had 
been  polished  with  soap  and  sand,  till  it  shone  almost  like  a 
mirror  ;  several  benches,  white  and  clean  as  wood  could  be 
made  ;  a  small  dresser,  on  which  some  very  nice  patterns  of 
queen's-ware  cups  and  saucers  were  upturned,  in  the  most 
approved  style,  while  plates  to  match  were  ranged  on  their 
edges  behind  them.  A  small  iron-furnace  stood  in  one  cor- 
ner of  the  fireplace,  supporting  the  tea-kettle,  bright  and 
shining  as  a  new  dollar.  Above  this,  on  a  naU,  hung  a 
spider,  as  free  from  soot  as  if  it  had  never  been  touched  by 
smoke.  A  rifle,  powder-horn,  and  shot-pouch  hung  above 
the  mantelpiece,  while  some  fishing  tackle  garnished  the 
wall  opposite. 

We  had  been  seated  but  a  short  time,  when  the  husband 
glanced  towards  his  wife.  She  understood  the  signal,  and, 
•ising,  with  a  smile,  took  her  tea-kettle  to  a  pai],  very  white 


177 

and  sweet,  that  the  husband  had  just  brought  In,  brimming 
full  of  cold,  fresh  water.  Then,  while  she  was  filling  the 
kettle  with  the  fluid,  he  kindled  a  warm,  light  blaze  in  the 
furnace,  over  which  it  was  placed  for  the  second  time.  Not 
wishing  to  prolong  our  stay  until  after  tea,  I  proposed 
going,  when  both  the  man  and  wife  seemed  disappointed, 
and  pressingly  invited  us  to  share  their  hospitality.  My 
companion,  however,  excused  us,  on1  the  plea  of  the  lateness 
of  the  hour,  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  the  miles  we 
had  to  travel,  before  reaching  our  destination. 

I  inquired  of  Inkley  if  this  family  were  Mor-mon.  He 
said  they  were  not,  though  the  saints  had  made  great  efforts 
to  secure  their  conversion.  He  thought  they  were  incorrigi- 
ble, and  given  over  to  hardness  of  heart. 

After  dark,  we  found  much  difficulty  in  keeping  the  road, 
there  being  frequent  forks,  and  nothing  to  guide  us.  We 
crossed  two  or  three  brooks,  and  several  miry  places,  while 
I  began  to  grow  impatient,  when  a  cluster  of  lights  appeared 
in  the  distance.  We  soon  reached  a  long,  low  cabin,  which 
Inkley  said  was  brother  Bipley's,  and  that  we  could  be  com- 
fortably entertained.  This  was,  indeed,  good  news.  The 
door  was  shut,  to  keep  out  the  mosquitoes  ;  but,  hearing 
our  steps,  the  good  man  came,  opened  it,  and  asked  us  to 
enter.  It  was  cheerful  and  comforting  within,  and  formed 
an  agreeable  contrast  with  the  damp,  dark  night.  A  bright 
lamp  diffused  a  mellow  light  through  the  apartment,  and  a 
balsamic  odor  breathed  from  the  low  fire  of  scented  wood 
A  door  to  the  right,  opened  to  the  background  of  supper- 

8* 


178  THE    HUSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

table  and  kitchen  ;  and  a  nice,  stout,  hale-looking,  but  old- 
ish lady,  in  a  neat  cap,  came  forth  to  welcome  us,  while  a 
boy  was  dispatched  to  attend  to  the  mules. 

When  we  were  somewhat  rested,  supper  was  announced 
by  a  negress,  in  a  very  white  bib,  and  a  very  red  turban. 
There  were  several  preparations  of  swine's  flesh,  fresh  fish, 
chicken,  wheat  and  corn  bread,  with  very  rich  short  cakes, 
and  two  or  three  kinds  of  sweetmeats.  Both  tea  and  coffee 
were  served,  and  water,  cooled  with  the  luxury  of  ice. 

After  supper,  while  Mrs.  Ripley  was  absent  from  the  room, 
superintending  her  domestic  affairs,  Mr.  Inkley  inquired  of 
our  host  whether  or  not  he  had  taken  a  second  wife. 

"  I  have  not,"  said  Ripley,  "  and  probably  never  shall. 
One  good  wife,  like  mine,  is  worth  more  to  a  man  than  a 
dozen  poor  ones.  I  have  long  thought  that." 

"  But  it  is  the  duty  of  the  saints,  you  know." 

"  I  don't  know  any  such  thing.  If  a  man  chooses  to 
curse  himself  with  more  than  one  wife,  I  have  nothing  to 
say.  If  he  remains  contented  with  one,  it  is  quite  as  well, 
in  my  opinion." 

"Yon  will  probably  change  your  mind,"  said  Inkley, 
"  when  the  right  one  crosses  your  path." 

"  I  think  not,"  answered  Ripley.  "  For  twenty  years  I 
have  lived  in  an  atmosphere  of  domestic  happiness.  My 
expectations  of  connubial  felicity  have  &een  fully  verified 
In  sickness  and  in  health,  in  poverty  and  wealth,  my  wife 
has  been  the  sun  that  diffused  life  and  light  and  joy  through 
the  sphere  in  which  I  moved.  At  my  advanced  period  ot 


A   COMFORTABLE   APARTMENT.  179 

life,  with  my  knowledge  of  womankind  and  the  world,  it 
would  scarcely  be  policy  to  attempt  the  experiment." 

Here  Mrs.  Ripley  came  in,  and  the  subject  was  dropped 
Her  husband  arose,  and  presented  her  with  a  chair,  with  all 
the  gallantry  of  youth  ;  and  it  was  beautiful  to  see  the  little 
courtesies  and  attentions  they  bestowed  on  each  other,  and 
which  are  generally  so  sadly  neglected  in  the  marriage 
state.  I  could  not  help  hoping  that  the  great  good-sense 
and  real  happiness  of  this  amiable  old  gentleman  would  pre- 
serve him  from  ever  listening  to  the  tempter,  whose  coftnsel, 
in  his  case,  at  least,  would  be  a  certain  prelude  of  misery 
and  disappointment. 

The  room  in  which  we  lodged  that  night,  was  one  of  the 
best  I  had  seen  in  the  Mormon  country.  All  its  appoint- 
ments and  furniture  bespoke  the  neat  and  thrifty  housewife. 
Nothing  at  loose  ends,  or  out  of  place.  Nothing  neglected 
for  some  one  else  to  oversee.  Our  bed-chamber  was  a  house 
in  itself,  separated  from  the  main  building,  though  connected 
with  it  by  a  platform  or  gallery  in  front.  The  window- 
sashes  had  been  raised,  for  ventilation,  and  their  places  sup- 
plied by  mosquito-curtains.  Two  stuffed  easy-chairs  stood 
near  the  fireplace,  each  with  a  tub  of  tepid  water,  to  bathe 
our  weary  feet,  before  it,  while  a  small  lamp  shed  just 
enough  light  to  render  the  apartment  pleasant.  Every- 
thing for  comfort., and  convenience  was  so  much  superior  to 
what  I  had  been  accustomed  to  see  in  this  country,  that  I 
could  not  help  noticing  and  remarking  on  it  to  my  com- 


180  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

paiiion.  Strange  to  say,  however,  he  was  rather  disposed 
to  cavil  and  find  fault,  thus  revealing  a  phase  of  character 
by  no  means  singular. 

The  next  day  we  visited  the  elder,  and,  through  all  the 
Mormon  empire,  I  have  not  seen  a  man  more  truly  and 
really  lovable  and  worthy.  To  my  infinite  surprise,  he  had 
no  wife  at  all,  and  his  house  was  kept  hi  order  by  a  youthful 
niece  Though  a  rigid  Mormon  in  other  respects,  he  was 
bitterly  opposed  to  polygamy,  and  had  several  times  refused 
his  niece  to  the  solicitations  of  men  with  families.  His 
example  had  not  been  without  its  influence.  A  majority  of 
those  within  his  spiritual  jurisdiction  had  but  one  wife — few, 
if  any,  had  more  than  two  ;  and  I  was  ready  to  make  the 
inquiry,  if  the  superiority  of  Ogden's  City  over  other  Mor- 
mon neighborhoods  was  to  be  attributed  to  this  fact. 

Accompanied  by  the  elder,  we  visited  the  tabernacle, 
which  was  not  remarkable  for  architectural  taste  or  beauty, 
though  answering  all  the  ends  of  a  roomy  structure.  It  is 
large  on  the  ground,  very  low,  and  has  a  wretchedly  tame 
appearance.  However,  father  Smith,  our  guide,  informed 
me  that  when  the  church  became  sufficiently  wealthy,  an- 
other and  better  building  would  be  reared,  and  the  present 
one  removed,  and  applied  to  other  purposes. 

Many  excellent  farms  are  in  this  neighborhood.  Fine 
meadow  and  pasture  lands  border  the  rrYer  on  which  the 
city  stands,  and  which  bears  the  same  name.  I  noticed 
very  fine  herds  of  cattle,  and  sheep  of  improved  breeds 


TRADITIONS   OF  OGDEN^S   HOLE.  181 

The  whole  region  had  an  air  of  pastoral  simplicity,  blent 
with  romantic  associations,  and  I  became  insensibly  in  love 
with  it. 

The  city  itself  (which  is  merely  a  thickly-settled  neighbor- 
hood, or  large  village)  is  near  the  mountains — huge,  frown- 
ing battlements,  that  seem  to  pierce  the  clouds.  Along 
their  sides  you  can  trace  the  wavy  paths  made  by  the  moc- 
casined  feet  of  the  Indians,  in  finding  their  way  to  their 
inaccessible  dens  and  caverns  among  the  heights. 

Ogden's  Hole,  a  noted  place  in  this  region,  is  celebrated 
for  one  of  those  desperate  .encounters  between  white  men 
and  savages  which  are  fast  becoming  traditionary.  Who 
knows  but  that  the  future  pen  of  the  novelist  may  make  it 
famous  as  Ellerslie  and  Wallace's  Cave.  It  i»  simply  a 
quiet,  sequestered  nook  of  the  canon,  whence  the  river 
flows,  in  which  one  Ogden,  with  a  party  of  white  hunters, 
made  a  successful  stand  against  a  host  of  Indians. 

It  is  noted,  too,  as  the  scene  of  a  romance  of  softer  char- 
acter and  more  recent  date  :  One  of  the  Indian  chiefs  had 
a  beautiful  daughter,  who  was  sought  after,  in  marriage,  by 
a  roving  hunter,  named  White.  The  belle  of  the  wilder- 
ness could  *not  resist  the  fascinations  of  the  white  man. 
They  were  married  according  to  the  Indian  mode,  and  took 
up  their  residence  in  Ogden's  Hole.  The  luxuries  and  appli- 
ances of  civilization  were  wanting  in  their  retreat,  yet  they 
were  happy  and  comfortable.  His  rifle  supplied  them  with 
food.  He  contended  successfully  with  the  grizzly  bear,  and 
dragged  the  panther  from  his  lair.  Such  exhibitions  of 


182  THE  HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 

strength  and  bravery  gave  him  great  influence  over  the 
natives.  His  retreat,  sheltered  from  tempests,  remained 
green  the  entire  year,  and  he  gathered  about  him  a  remark- 
ably fine  herd  of  cattle.  These  he  drove  off  to  California, 
and  returned  with  a  splendid  lot  of  horses.  His  reputed 
wealth  tempted  the  cupidity  of  his  Mormon  neighbors. 
Then  he  was  not  a  believer  in  their  faith,  and  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  reprove  their  practices.  He  went  out  hunting,  one 
day,  but  did  not  return.  His  wife  was  alarmed,  and,  with 
her  relatives,  instituted  a  search.  They  found  him  dead, 
from  the  effects  of  a  bullet  that/'  had  penetrated  his  brain. 
But  who  aimed  the  murderous  weapon  ?  Alas  1  the  rocks 
and  deep  glens  had  no  tongue  for  mortal  ears.  His  pro- 
perty was  seized,  under  some  pretense,  and  eventually  distri- 
buted among  the  dignitaries  of  the  Mormon  church,  though, 
to  the  credit  of  father  Smith,  be  it  said,  he  returned  his 
portion  to  tfye  bereaved  widow  and  her  orphan  babes.  I 
heard  of  many  such  instances,  and  cannot  wonder  that  the 
Mormons  are  greatly  detested. 

Ogden's  City  boasts,  likewise,  a  drinking-house  or  tavern, 
which  I  visited,  from  sheer  curiosity.  I  had  been  informed 
that  one  Goodall,  a  man  famous  through  all  the  West  for 
his  narrow  escapes  and  daring  exploits,  was  there  to  be 
seen,  with  his  men  ;  and  I  went  to  look  at  them,  as  to  a 
collection  of  natural  curiosities,  or  a  menagerie  of  strange 
animals.  They  were  lounging  around  the  door,  and  in  the 
house,  which  seemed  filled  with  them — swarthy  Mexicans 
and  Indians,  of  nameless  tribes,  dressed  in  their  native  cos- 


GOODALL   AND    HIS    HOESE.  183 

tumes.  There  was  also  a  Lipan,  with  the  keen,  fiery  eyes 
peculiar  to  his  race ;  and  two  Finos,  from  the  interior  of 
New-Mexico.  A  number  of  thieving,  murdering  Carnanches 
exhibited  their  hateful  physiognomies  ;  and  the  whole  com- 
pany had  such  a  vagabond  look,  that  I  wondered  Goodall 
was  not  afraid  of  them. 

Goodall  hails  from  New-York  State,  where  he  left  a  wife 
and  several  children,  though  he  has  since  assumed  the  mar 
riage  relation  in  nearly  or  quite  all  the  native  tribes  among 
whom  he  has  traded.  It  gives  him  influence,  and,  no  doubt, 
the  Indian  belles  are  glad  to  secure  so  attractive  a  lover. 
His  costume  is  decidedly  picturesque.  It  consists  of  richly 
embroidered  buckskin  pants  and  moccasins,  exhibiting  a 
great  degree  of  taste.  A  gaudy  belt  around  his  waist, 
garnished  with  weapons,  giving  him  the  appearance  of  a 
finished  mountain-rover.  Several  very  large  dogs,  of  the 
Newfoundland  and  Spanish  breeds,  were  attached  to  his 
train,  and  he  rode,  when  in  motion,  one  of  the  finest  horses 
I  ever  beheld. 

I  was  strongly  reminded  of  Dick  Turpin's  favorite  Black 
Bess,  while  listening  to  the  anecdotes  related  of  this  won- 
derful animal.  Goodall  declared  that  he  could  do  every- 
thing but  talk,  and  had  a  way  of  expressing  himself  that 
no  one  could  misunderstand.  He  seems  to  be  perfectly 
aware  that  he  is  a  privileged  being — allows  no  one  to 
mount  him  but  his  master,  and  domineers  like  a  despot 
over  every  other  horse  or  animal  that  comes  in  his  way. 
Marvellous  stories  are  told  of  him.  How  he  saved  his  mas- 


THE   HUSBAND   IN   U1AU. 

ter's  life,  by  bearing  him  through  the  floods  of  a  swollen 
river,  and,  again,  by  outstripping  a  band  of  mounted  sav- 
ages, running  eighteen  hours,  without  pausing  for  a  moment 
until  he  reached  a  place  of  safety. 

Goodall  was  no  friend  to  the  Mormons  ;  it  was  business, 
and  that  alone,  which  induced  him  to  pass  through  their 
territory.  He  had  a  drove  of  sheep,  quartered  at  a  little 
distance  in  the  valley.  At  first,  he  took  me  for  one  of  the 
Mormons,  and  was  rather  shy ;  but  ascertaining  that  such 
was  not  the  case — that  I  was  simply  a  tourist,  travelling  for 
instruction  and  amusement — he  became  communicative,  and 
invited  me  out  to  see  his  camp.  The  sheep — long-legged, 
coarse-woolled,  and  black-nosed  animals — were  quietly  feed- 
ing, in  a  beautiful  pasture-ground  near  the  "corral,"  into 
which  they  were  gathered  at  night,  and  which  consisted  of 
upright  logs,  stockade  fashion. 

I  inquired  if  there  was  not  danger  that  some  of  the 
animals  would  be  stolen. 

"  Danger  1"  he  replied.  "  Of  course,  there  is  danger — 
otherwise  there  would  be  no  necessity  for  keeping  a  gang  to 
watch  them." 

I  asked  whom  he  feared.  His  reply  was  characteristic, 
and  to  the  point — 

"  The  Mormons,  of  course." 

I  replied  that  the  Mormons  seemed  to  bear  rather  a  bad 
name,  but  I  supposed  that  there  must  be  honest  men  among 
them. 

"  Not  a  damn  one  !"  he  answered,  quickly.   "  Not  a  damn 


GOODALL'S  OPINION  OF  THE  MOKMONS.         185 

one  !  Stranger,  I've  always  knowed  ?em.  I  knowed  Jo 
Smith,  and  a  greater  rascal  never  trod  shoe-leather.  I 
knowed  Brigham  Young  when  he  was  a  boy.  We  went  to 
school  together.  I  knowed  Elder  Gould,  and  hundreds 
more  ;  and  I  never  yet  knew  one  that  could  be  trusted. 
To  lie,  and  steal,  and  cheat,  is  a  part  of  their  religion.  I 
say  it  is  1" 

"  But  I  should  think  that  among  so  many,  there  must  be 
some  good  and  sincere  men." 

"  Not  a  damn  one  !  Not  a  damn  one  !"  he  repeated. 
"  It  takes  a  good  while  to  find  them  out,  sometimes  ;  but 
the  knowledge  will  surely  come." 

"  I  hope  it  may  not." 

"  Stranger,"  he  continued,  "  until  I  came  among  these 
Mormons,  I  had  faith  in  human  nature.  I  have  none  now. 
I  had  faith  in  virtue,  in  purity,  and  in  goodness.  It  is  all 
gone.  I  curse  them,  because  they  have  cursed  me  with  the 
sight  of  their  inborn  depravity.  They  will  curse  you  in  the 
same  manner." 

I  could  hardly  forbear  smiling  at  his  earnestness.  The 
hunters  and  traders  cherish,  very  generally,  an  ill-feeling 
towards  the  Mormons.  This  might  partly  be  explained 
without  accusing  either  party  of  dishonor  or  actual  dishon- 
esty. The  Mormons  have  contrived  to  absorb  most  of  the 
Indian  trade  ;  and  tfte  herding  business  is  much  less  profit- 
able, since  so  many  have  embarked  in  it.  Then,  too,  the 
hunting-grounds  have  been  materially  lessened  in  extent,  the 
game  rapidly  diminished,  and  the  natives  thereby  incited  to 


186  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

acts  of  violence  and  opposition  to  the  wishes  and  interests 
of  those  they  had  formerly  treated  and  regarded  as  friends. 
"  What  everybody  says,  must  be  true,"  is  an  old  adage  ; 
and  all  agree  in  telling  one  story  about  the  Mormons,  and 
attributing  to  them  the  grossest  deception  and  the  foulest 
vices. 


A   CALL   FKOM   FKEDEEICK   B .  187 


CHAPTER  X. 

FREDERICK    B . THE    MORMON    THEATRE MRS.  CANFIELD, 

ETC.,  ETC. 

WHEN  we  returned  to  Zion,  the  Mrs.  Inkleys  informed 
me  that  a  young  man  had  been  there  twice,  and  both 
times  inquiring  for  me.  At  first,  I  was  utterly  at  a  loss  to 
conjecture  who  it  could  be. 

"  Did  he  give  his  name  ?"  I  inquired  of  Hannah,  the  only 
one  present. 

"  It  was  not  me,  but  Martha,  whom  he  asked,"  she 
replied. 

"  Martha,  did  that  young  man  give  his  name  ?"  she  cried. 

"  No — yes — that  is,  it  seems  that  he  did.  Fred —  Fred- 
erick ;  that's  it." 

"  Frederick  B ?" 

"  That  was  the  name.  He  said  that  he  wished  you  would 
come  round  there,  when  you  got  home." 

"  Was  that  all  ?" 

"  That  was  all." 

It  was  then  quite  late  in  the  evening.     I  was  wgary,  and 


188  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

so  postponed  going  until  morning.  When  morning  came, 
breakfast  was  later  than  usual,  and  it  was  near  ten  o'clock 
before  I  could  obey  the  summons.  My  heart  misgave  me. 
I  felt  almost  certain  that  something  unusual  had  happened, 
though  its  nature  I  failed  to  define.  I  quickened  my  pace, 
only  pausing  to  salute  two  or  three  acquaintances,  and  soon 
arrived  at  tke  place.  The  door  was  shut,  and  I  knocked 
softly. 

"  Come  in,"  said  a  voice  that  I  knew  to  be  Frederick's. 
I  entered  the  apartment,  when  the  first  object  that  met  my 
view  was  the  old  man,  apparently  in  the  last  agonies.  His 
son  was  bending  over  him,  with  all  the  tenderness  of  a 
woman,  wiping  the  death-damps  from  his  brow,  moistening 
his  parched  tongue,  and  otherwise  administering  to  his  phy- 
sical comfort.  He  pressed  my  hand,  in  silence,  glanced  at 
the  sufferer,  and  resumed  his  post  by  the  bedside.  I  sat 
down  on  a  low  bench,  an  interested  spectator  in  the  scene. 

The  old  man's  senses  were  wandering.  He  muttered, 
scarce  intelligibly,  of  the  days  and  events  of  his  youth. 
His  marriage,  the  birth  of  his  child,  and  their  happiness  in 
the  cottage-home,  all  came  back,  in  pleasing  retrospect.  At 
length  his  tone  changed,  his  words  became  fewer  and  more 
distinct,  and  he  suddenly  woke  to  recollection.  We  both 
knew  it  to  be  the  last  flickering  beam  of  life  and  intellect, 
and  he  felt  it  so  himself.  Holding  out  his  hand  to  his  son, 
he  said,  "  I  am  going  to  meet  your  mother,  Frederick.  She 
was  with  me,  just  now  ;  but  her  garments  were  white,  and 
her  face  was  that  of  an  angel's." 


.DEATH  OF  FREDERICK'S  FATHER.      189 

Overcome  by  the  violence  of  his  emotions,  the  strong 
man  sobbed  aloud. 

"  Now,  don't — don't — my  son,"  he  said.  "  I  am  an  old 
man.  My  time  has  come.  It  is  meet  that  I  should  go.  I 
die  in  the  faith." 

"What  faith,  father?" 

"  Of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  and  he  fell  back,  dead. 

Frederick  lifted  his  hands,  and  said,  "  May  you  meet  my 
mother  in  that  land  where  there  is  neither  change  nor  apos- 
tasy 1" 

"  0  God,  it  is  a  fearful  thing, 
To  see  the  human  soul  take  wing !" 

More  fearful,  perhaps,  in  the  stillness,  and  gloom,  and  sorrow 
of  a  home  to  be  bereaved,  than  in  the  earthquake,  the 
storm,  or  the  battle,  where  all  the  softer  and  tenderer  emo- 
tions are  wrought  to  an  intensity  of  excitement  that  borders 
on  sublimity. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  few  moments,  I  arose,  and  proceeded 
to  perform  the  last  sad  offices  of  affection  for  the  dead,  dis- 
posing the  decent  limbs,  folding  the  meek  hands  over  the 
quiet  breast,  and  sealing  the  waxen  eyelids  in  an  attitude  of 
slumber.  The  next  day  was  appointed  for  the  funeral,  which 
Frederick  decided  to  keep  secret  as  possible.  With  the 
assistance  of  a  few  friends,  a  coffin  was  procured,  and  the 
robes  for  the  dead  prepared. 

"  No  Mormon  has  been  spoken  to,"  said  Frederick. 
"  I  hope  they  will  remain  in  entire  ignorance  of  what  is 
going  on." 


190  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

"  For  your  sake,  I  hope  so,  too/  though  It  is  rather 
unlikely." 

A  slight  noise  at  the  window  attracted  my  attention,  and, 
looking  around,  I  beheld  a  pair  of  glaring  eyes. 

11  Who  is  there  ?"  I  whispered  to  Frederick,  pointing 
towards  them.  But,  before  he  could  turn,  they  had  disap- 
peared. 

"  The  vultures  will  soon  be  here,"  he  said,  and  he  spoke 
truly.  When  a  Mormon  dies,  the  church  assumes  the  right 
to  look  after  his  property,  if  he  is  possessed  of  any.  In 
half  an  hour,  a  priest  was  at  the  door.  He  came  in  with- 
out ceremony  of  knocking,  and  deported  himself  with  an 
insolence  altogether  unbearable. 

"  So  our  brother  has  gone,"  he  said.  "  Peace  to  his 
memory  !  Dying  happily,  as  a  Gentile  never  dies  ;  and 
certain  of  taking  his  place  in  the  promised  land,  at  the  last 
day." 

"  My  father  died  in  the»  faith  of  Christ,  and  in  no  other," 
said  Frederick,  somewhat  tartly. 

"  Ours  is  the  faith  of  Christ,"  said  the  priest.  "  He  was 
one  of  us  ;  our  brother.  He  loved  our  institutions  ;  he 
followed  our  practices.  What  are  you,  to  assume  the  dicta- 
tion of  affairs  ?  That  prerogative  belongs  to  the  church." 
.  "  Begone  1"  said  Frederick. '  "  I  have  not  words  to  waste 
on  such  a  reptile." 

The  countenance  of  the  priest  actually  assumed  a  fiendish 
expression.  "Time  will  manifest  who  is  lord  here,"  he 
muttered,  and  went  out. 


A  DISGRACEFUL   SCENE.  191 

"  He  has  gone  for  a  reinforcement/'  I  observed. 

"  This  is  dreadful  1"  said  Frederick.  *  The  necessity  of 
'quarrelling  over  the  body  of  so  near  and  dear  a  relative  1" 

In  a  few  minutes  the  priest  returned,  leading  the  woman 
who,  in  the  Mormon  ritual,  had  been  "sealed"  to  that  old 
man  as  his  second  wife,  and  whom  Frederick  had  expelled 
from  the  house. 

"The  church,"  said  the  priest,  addressing  her,  "delegates 
you  the  mistress  here.  Take  possession  and  authority." 

"  She  shall  not !"  said  Frederick. 

"  She  shall  1"  said  the  priest.     "He  is  her  husband." 

"  He  is  my  father." 

The  hag,  meanwhile,  stood  a  silent,  though  apparently 
well-pleased  spectator. 

Seeing  how  matters  must  terminate,  I  slipped  from  the 
room,  without  saying  a  word  to  any  one,  ran  to  the  hotel  of 
Colonel  Kinney,  where  I  knew  that  the  officers  of  the  mili- 
tary were  boarding.  Fortunately,  the  commandant  was  dis- 
engaged. He  received  me  graciously,  listened  to  my  state- 
ment of  the  pending  difficulty,  and  immediately  dispatched 
a  corporal,  at  the  head  of  his  platoon,  to  occupy  the  pre- 
mises, and  see  that  order  was  maintained. 

As  I  anticipated,  the  house  was  filled  with  Mormons,  on 
my  return.  Frederick  was  lying,  bound,  on  the  floor,  and 
that  hideous  woman  sitting  beside  the  corpse.  They  were 
evidently  disconcerted  when  the  military  appeared,  and  the 
priest  gre%  wonderfully  respectful  when  addressing  the  offi- 
cer. He  seemed  to  comprehend  affairs  at  a  glance,  orderec} 


192  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

them  all  to  disperse  and  depart,  assured  the  woman  that  it 
was  no  place  for  h^r — that  she  looked  much  more  like  going 
into  a  wash-tub  than  to  a  funeral — and  carried  out  his  com- 
mands by  compelling  obedience.  The  priest  asserted  his 
•right  to  stay,  as  a  minister  of  religion  ;  but  the  gallant 
soldier  plainly  told  him  that  his  orders  were  imperative, 
without  distinction  of  class  or  profession.  Uttering  impre- 
cations against  the  soldiers,  the  government,  and  every- 
thing in  general  that  might  dare  to  interfere  with  the 
liberties  of  the  saints,  he  departed. 

Released  from  the  ignominious  cords  with  which  his 
enemies  had  bound  him,  Frederick  stood  again  beside  his 
dead.  The  soldiers — hushed,  reverent,  and  uncovered,  in 
the  presence  of  death— occupied  one  side  of  the  house.  I 
sat  near,  conscious  that  the  mourner  required  my  presence, 
as  a  support  in  this  hour  of  affliction. 

To  avoid  the  public  gaze — above  all,  to  prevent  the 
attendance  of  those  whose  faith  he  loathed,  and  whose 
presence  he  hated — Frederick  determined  that  the  burial 
should  take  place  at  midnight. 

•  "  The  hour  is  unseemly,"  I  said,  "  for  such  as  your 
father — a  peaceful  and  good  man.  It  would  do  well  for  a 
brigand — a  man  of  war  and  bloodshed — but  not  for  such 
as  him." 

"  We  are  among  brigands,"  he  replied,  and  his  resolution 
remained  unchanged. 

That  night,  therefore,  when  the  city  was  sifent  with 
slumber,  the  procession  moved  from  the  house,  and  slowly 


Side  by  side  with  the  tomb  of  his  wife  had  SL  new  grave  been  made.  There  they 
pauned,  and  after  a  little  preparation,  lowered  dowa  the  eoffia  by  the  strong  glare  of 
torches.— PAOH  108. 


A   BURIAL.  193 

down  the  street — the  strong  soldiers,  in  their  scarlet  nni- 
forms,  bearing  the  coffin  with  ease,  and  Frederick,  with 
myself,  following  as  chief  mourner.  Side  by  side  with  the 
tomb  of  his  wife,  had  a  new  grave  been  made.  There  they 
paused,  and,  after  a  little  preparation,  lowered  down  the 
coffin,  by  the  strong  glare  of  torches,  held  high  above  their 
heads  by  the  others  in  attendance.  Then  followed  the 
striking  of  spades  in  the  gravelly  earth,  and  the  ringing  of 
clods  on  the  coffin — sounds  so  fearful  and  ominous  to  the 
human  heart.  When  the  cavity  was  filled,  the  soldiers,  at 
a  word  from  their  commander,  moved  silently  and  reverently 
away,  leaving  us  alone,  with  the  deep  solemnity  of  darkness 
around  us,  and  the  stars  watching  above. 

But  others  than  the  stars  had  seen  us,  and  noted  our 
proceedings.  I  accompanied  Frederick  to  the  house  we  had 
left,  and  going,  he  remarked  on  the  silence  and  apparent 
desertion  of  the  streets,  exulting  secretly,  as  I  thought,  in 
having  so  far  outwitted  his  enemies,  and  the  betrayers  of 
his  father's  peace.  The  cabin,  too,  when  we  reached  it, 
was  dark  and  silent.  He  unlatched  the  door — we  entered. 
Whence  the  impression  arose,  I  know  not,  but  I  felt  intui- 
tively that  another  presence  than  ours  was  there — that 
some  influence  had  been  to  work  in  our  absence,  and  that 
we  might  expect  a  surprise.  I  am  not  naturally  super- 
stitious, yet  the  midnight  burial,  the  hour,  the  darkness,  and 
the  recent  presence  of  death,  were  not  without  their  impres- 
sions. Frederick,  meanwhile,  was  groping  around,  to  pro- 
cure a  light. 

9 


194:  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

"  The  table  stood  here,  I  thought,  with  a  candle  on  it* 
he  said  ;  "  but  now  I  cannot  find  either." 

A  light  broke  into  my  mind,  but  I  said  nothing.  He 
passed  around  the  room,  in  the  darkness,  and  finally,  with 
outstretched  hands,  caught  hold  of  me. 

"  One  of  two  things  is  certain,"  he  remarked — "  that  we 
have  either  mistaken  the  place,  or  those  wretches  have  been 
here  and  stripped  the  house  in  our  absence.  Fortunately,  if 
I  cannot  find  a  candle,  I  can  strike  a  match." 

He  did  so,  and  applied  it  to  some  fragments  of  dry  wood, 
which  instantly  illuminated  the  apartment.  Every  vestige 
of  the  furniture  had  been  removed — the  table,  chairs,  and 
bed  ;  in  short,  all  the  movables. 

"  This  is  more  than  I  expected  1"  said  Frederick,  with  a 
look  of  blank  amazement. 

The  whole  affair  was  so  singular,  I  could  not  wonder  at 
his  surprise. 

"  Only  another  proof  of  their  artfulness,  and  the  constant 
espionage  they  practise,"  he  continued.  "  Many  a  time  the 
uneasy  consciousness  of  the  probable  presence  of  some  one 
when  I  was  not  assured  of  his  or  her  being  near,  has  made 
me  nervous.  I  suppose  they  feared  that  something  might 
escape  then-  brigandism,  if  they  waited  till  morning.  Well, 
I  hope  they  are  satisfied." 

Very  heartily  I  echoed  the  devout  wish,  and  proposed 
that  we  should  adjourn  to  my  boarding-house. 

"  Do  you  live  with  a  Mormon  ?"  inquired  Frederick. 

Being  assured   that  I  did,  he   declined   the   invitation. 


A   MORMON   THEATRE.  195 

because  he  had  formed  the  solemn  resolution  never,  on  any 
condition,  to  accept  hospitality  from  a  people  by  whom  his 
parents  had  been  so  grievously  wronged  and  deceived. 

"  Where,  then,  will  you  go  ?"  I  inquired. 

*'  To  the  house  of  Mrs.  Caufield,  my  mother's  best  friend." 

"  Mrs.  Canfield,  the  actress?"  I  echoed,  in  some  surprise. 

"  The  same." 

"  But  she  is  a  Mormon." 

"  You  mistake.  Policy  induces  her  to  assume  a  friendli- 
ness towards  them,  which  she  is  far  from  feeling.  Come,  let 
us  be  going." 

Together  we  left  the  empty  house,  and  passed  along  the 
street  ;  but  I  could  not  reconcile  it  with  my  notions  of  pro- 
priety, to  ask,  at  such  an  hour,  the  hospitality  of  a  stranger- 
lady,  and  so  we  separated,  for  the  time. 

I  cannot  tell  how  the  next  day  passed.  I  suppose  like 
many  others  that  leave  no  abiding  impression.  I  never  look 
out  for  adventures — they  are  wearisome.  I  care  little  about 
incidents — they  are  commonplace.  But  that  night  I  went  to 
the  theatre.  Yes,  friends,  a  veritable  Mormon  theatre  ;  for, 
whether  you  do  or  not,  you  should  know  that  these  worthies 
are  quite  as  fond  of  carnal  pleasures  as  the  Gentiles,  though 
not  quite  so  well  fixed  for  enjoying  them. 

The  building  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Thespis  bears 
little  comparison  to  those  of  the  same  character  in  our 
Eastern  cities.  It  wants  their  style,  their  finish,  their  ele- 
gant adaptation  to  comfort  and  convenience ;  yet  this 
deficiency  is  more  than  made  up  by  the  novelty  of  every- 


196  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

thing  around  you,  and  the  singular  appearance  of  the  hete- 
rogeneous crowd  that  throng  on  every  side. 

The  Mormon  theatre  is  always  well  filled.  There  meet 
the  hunters  from  the  head-waters  of  the  Colorado,  the  falls 
of  the  Columbia,  and  the  great  northern  lakes  of  Canada. 
Here  the  Santa-Fe  trader  and  New-Mexican  stand  side  by 
side  with  the  Dane,  Norwegian,  and  German.  Here  soldiers 
in  uniform  jostle  plain  citizens,  or  stately  Indian  chiefs,  in 
all  the  glory  of  war-paint  and  feathers,  bend  their  stern 
brows  inflexibly  and  immovably  over  the  scene.  Last, 
though  not  least,  are  the  stately  elders  and  their  fair 
spouses.  The  High  Priest  usually  appears  with  ten  or  a 
dozen,  Kimball  with  as  many  more,  Dr.  Richards  with  nine, 
and  Parley  Pratt  with  an  equal  number. 

I  was  there  early,  and  it  was  really  amusing  to  see  these 
dignitaries  of  the  church  provide  seats  for  the  members  of 
their  harems.  The  gentleman  would  come  in  first,  followed 
by  his  wives,  in  the  order  of  two  by  two.  He  would  look 
around,  as  if  calculating  distances  and  numbers.  If  there 
was  an  empty  seat,  well  and  good.  He  took  possession  of 
the  middle,  and  his  ladies  ranged  themselves  on  either  side 
of  hmi — the  youngest  and  fairest,  next  his  person  ;  the  old- 
est and  ugliest  on  the  outside.  Let  me  hazard  the  compari- 
son of  some  stately  knight  of  the  barnyard,  on  his  perch, 
accompanied  by  his  numerous  and  faithful  retinue  of  females 
The  youngest  ladies,  as  the  favorites  of  their  husbands  for 
the  time,  were  the  best  dressed,  and  many  of  them  were 
decidedly  beautiful.  How  taey  could  consent  to  occupy  the 


HOW  TO  TELL   A   FRENCHWOMAN".  197 

position  of  ninth  or  tenth  wife  to  old  and  not  particularly 
handsome  men,  excited  my  wonder  ;  and  I  was  beginning 
to  speculate  on  the  weakness  and  folly  of  women,  in  a  man- 
ner that  would  have  gained  me  no  credit  among  the  strong- 
minded  sisterhood,  when  my  meditations  were  disturbed  by 
a  little  Frenchwoman,  who  came  in  and  seated  herself  very 
unceremoniously  beside  me. 

Mademoiselle  was  not  timid.  It  made  no  difference  to 
her  that  we  had  not  been  introduced  ;  and  my  gallantry 
would  not  permit  me  to  treat  a  lady  with  rudeness,  under 
any  circumstances.  With  the  utmost  familiarity  she  began 
a  conversation,  and  my  curiosity  impelled  me  to  listen  and 
reply. 

"  How  do  you  know  that  she  was  a  Frenchwoman,  if 
you  were  strangers  ?"  says  one. 

I  knew  it  by  her  appearance  ;  by  the  becoming  taste 
manifested  in  her  dress  ;  by  the  knots  and  bows  of  ribbon, 
the  sprigs  of  flowers,  and  pearl  ornaments,  conspicuously 
displayed  on  her  person,  to  say  nothing  of  the  thousand 
little  graces  and  arts,  which  others  may  imitate  artificially, 
but  which  seem  natural  only  to  them.  All  the  world  over, 
you  can  tell  a  Frenchwoman  ;  and,  before  she  had  spoken, 
I  knew,  intuitively,  that  she  was  such. 

"  Do  you  see  dat  beautiful  lady,  yonder  ?"  she  asked, 
with  the  most  charming  confidence. 

"Where?" 

"  Dat  one  setting  next  Brigham,  de  prophet." 

Mademoiselle  spoke  with  sufficient  foreign  accent  to  ren- 


198  THE   HUSBAND    IN   UTAH. 

*  '. 

der  her  conversation  interesting,  but  she  was  much  too  artful 
to  disgust  a  fastidious  English  ear  by  an  ungrammatic  or 
idiomatic  style. 
"  I  see  her." 

I  did,  indeed.     I  had  rested  my  eyes,  for  some  moments, 
on  her  sylph-like  form — her  fair  neck,  bosom,  and  arms, 
veiled,  not   covered,  by  a  thin  scarf  of  gauze   lace — her 
bright  hair,  her  patrician  features,  their  damask  bloom,  and 
the  flash  of  conscious  triumph  that  lighted  her  eye.     Why 
had  she  come  here  to  practise  her  fascinations  ! 
Mademoiselle  recalled  my  wandering  thoughts. 
"  Dat  lady  be  forty  years  old." 
"  Impossible !" 

"  Fact !  I  know.  We  came  to  California,  in  de  same 
(Steamer,  fr*>  n  la  belle  France — cher  Paris.  Den  we  come 
here." 

"Wb^for?" 

"  Oui  j  Monsieur  mustn't  be  curus  1  Ver  good  reason  ; 
ver  good,  indeed." 

I  assured  her  there  was  no  necessity  for  telling,  and 
turned  my  attention  to  the  play.  The  Frenchwoman,  how- 
ever, was  not  to  be  put  off.  She  touched  my  elbow.  I 
looked  around. 

"  Dat  lady  —would  Monsieur  like  to  hear  her  history  ?* 
she  asked 

"  Perhaps  w,  at  some  other  time." 

"  Oui ;  Monsieur  wishes  to  see  de  play." 

"  I  do." 


MANNERS    AT   THE   THEATRE.  199 

"  Yer  well,  not  hinder,"  and  she  turned  away.  After 
sitting  a  few  minutes  in  silence,  she  arose,  flirted  away,  and 
sat  down  by  another  gentloman,  with  whom  she  was  soon 
deeply  engaged  in  conversation.  He  evidently  admired  her, 
and  was  not  bashful  about  making  it  known,  while  a  woman, 
probably  his  wife,  sat  on  the  other  side  of  him,  and  mani- 
fested great  uneasiness. 

The  utmost  latitude  in  manners  prevails  at  the  theatre. 
The  private  drawing-room  df  Rosanna  Towusend  would 
never  have  tolerated  such  scenes  as  are  publicly  enacted 
there  ;  and  the  worst  of  it  is,  there  is  no  distinction.  In 
our  theatres,  the  disreputable  characters  occupy  certain 
places — here  they  are  mixed  up  with  the  rest. 

The  acting  was  on  a  stage,  raised  three  or  four  feet  above 
the  floor  of  the  room  occupied  by  the  spectators.  The  play 
was  the  Lady  of  Lyons,  of  which  the  Mormons  are  exces- 
sively fond.  It  ran  season  after  season,  with  little  varia- 
tion, and  they  were  dissatisfied  when  another  was  substituted 
in  its  stead. 

On  this  occasion,  the  performance  was  good,  and  might 
be  relished  by  one  able  to  divert  his  mind  from  other  scenes 
passing  around  him.  Some  of  the  chief  actors  exhibited 
decided  ability.  Among  these,  Mrs.  Canfield,  as  the  mother 
of  Claude,  performed  her  part  admirably,  and  Mrs.  Wheelock, 
who  represented  Pauline,  to  the  life. 

The  latter  is  very  beautiful.  Her  face  beams  with  intelli- 
gence, and  her  voice  is  thrillingly  melodious.  Her  husband 
having  been  absent  in  Australia  nearly  two  years,  a  multi- 


200  THE   HUSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

tude  of  saints,  prophets,  and  apostles  are  in  full  chase  after 
her.  According  to  Mormon  theology,  the  absence  of  a  hus- 
band releases  the  wife  from  all  obligation,  and  she  is  at  per- 
fect liberty  to  form  a  union,  at  pleasure,  with  another  man. 
One  of  the  most  eager  in  this  pursuit,  is  the  man  who 
enacted  the  part  of  Claude,  and  whose  passionate  protesta- 
tions had  an  air  of  the  sincerest  reality.  Neither  were  the 
other  actors  indifferent  to  her  charms.  Indeed,  their  mani- 
festations of  gallantry  seriously  interfered  with  the  perform- 
ance intended  for  the  public  amusement. 

s 

MRS.    CANFIELD 

Is  an  English  woman,  from  Bath,  who,  having  been  deserted 
by  her  husband,  has  been  obliged  to  resort  to  the  stage,  to 
obtain  bread  for  her  children.  I  called  on  Frederick,  at  her 
house,  to-day.  She  received  me  with  grea't  affability,  and 
related,  for  my  entertainment,  many  interesting  incidents 
connected  with  her  travels  and  adventures.  The  room  was 
garnished  with  pictures  and  mementoes  of  her  native  city, 
and  her  eyes  fillet1  jyith  tears,  while  explaining  the  particular 
points  of  interest,  or  relating  the  associations  that  gave  to 
each  its  relative  value.  She  was  not  a  believer  in  Mormon- 
ism,  as  she  assured  me,  but  necessity  impelled  her  stay 
among  them.  At  first,  she  tried  to  obtain  a  livelihood  by 
sewing,  and  found  plenty  of.  employment,  but  little  pay. 
Then  she  resorted  to  school-teaching,  with  even  worse  suc- 
cess ;  and  finally,  as  a  last  experiment,  attempted  the  stage 


MRS.    CANFIELD.  201 

Here  her  fine  talent  for  music  procured  her  notoriety,  and 
she  might  have  found  it  profitable  had  it  not  been  for  the 
unusual  number  of  free-tickets,  which  admit  the  elders  and 
their  families. 

I  could  not  but  be  aware  that  one  so  good,  beautiful,  and 
intelligent,  could  not  remain  long  in  Mormondom  without  a 
train  of  suitors,  and  I  subsequently  learned  that  her  hand 
had  been  sought  by  several  men,  some  of  whom  were 
already  husbands.  But  their  offers  were  firmly,  though 
respectfully,  declined.  Her  conscience  would  not  permit 
her  to  form  a  second  marriage,  until  she  was  assured  of 
her  husband's  death  ;  but,  under  no  consideration,  would 
she  ever  be  united  with  a  sensual  polygamist. 


9* 

/ 


202  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 


CHArTER  XI. 

THE    TABERNACLE FORM    OF    MORMON    WORSHIP SPECIMEN 

OF    PREACHING,  ETC. 

NEAR  the  Mormon  theatre,  and  somewhat. resembling  it 
in  appearance  and  capaciousness,  is  the  Tabernacle — 
not  the  first  one  that  was  built,  though  it  occupies  the  same 
situation.  The  first  building  was  large  on  the  ground,  and 
presented  the  appearance  of  an  immense  oblong  box.  la 
1854,  this  was  taken  down  and  removed,  to  make  way  for 
the  magnificent  temple  that  stands  there  now.*  It  is  hand- 
somely built  of  stone,  and  makes  some  pretensions  to  archi- 
tectural beauty,  though  chiefly  remarkable  for  its  immense 
size.  It  is  said  to  be  capable  of  accommodating  five  thou- 
sand persons,  with  ease  ;  and  is  surrounded  by  a  high  wall, 
reared  with  immense  cost  and  labor.  You  enter  by  large 
folding-doors  in  the  east  end,  which  face  the  platform  occu- 
pied by  the  priests  and  elders  in  the  west.  The  seats  are 
arranged  in  the  form  of  an  amphitheatre,  and  all  are  enabled 
to  gratify  their  devotion  and  curiosity,  by  a  plain  view  of 
those  who  conduct  the  worship.  I  attended  once,  and  but 
once,  there  being  little  in  the  service  that  could  interest  the 


ASSEMBLAGE   AT   THE   TABERNACLE.  203 

sympathies,  and  still  less  that  could  affect  the  understand- 
ing. Wanting  in  the  plain,  severe  simplicity  of  the  Protes- 
tant worship,  it  has  none  of  the  pomp  and  gorgeousness  of 
the  Catholic  ceremonial.  Yet  Mormonism  is  in  its  infancy. 
It  wants  the  prestige  of  age,  to  render  it  venerable  ;  it 
requires  the  combined  efforts  of  literature  and  art,  of  good 
taste,  sound  sense,  and  elegant  ideas,  to  perfect  its  form  of 
worship.  Centuries  of  toil,  study,  and  the  most  approved 
methods  of  art,  combined  with  unbounded  wealth,  have 
given  to  the  Catholic  Church  its  perfection  in  appliances  to 
captivate  the  senses. 

What  may  not  the  Mormons  in  eighteen  centuries  become  ? 
I  could  not  help  thinking  this,  as,  under  the  guidance  of 
Elder  Snow,  (g.)  I  went  up  to  the  Tabernacle,  one  Sunday 
morning*  and  saw  the  immense  assemblage  gathered  there 
from  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe.  Unlike  the  Eastern 
polygamists*,  the  Mormons  do  not  attempt  to  confine  their 
wives,  or  keep  them  secreted  from  the  gaze  of  others.  All 
entered  the  church  promiscuously,  and  sat  just  as  it  hap- 
pened, though,  generally,  the  husband  placed  himself  in  the 
midst  of  his  wives.  It  was  a  strange  assemblage,  yet,  who 
could  expect  anything  better  ?  And  think  you  the  followers 
of  Christianity,  in  the  first  century  of  its  existence,  ap- 
peared much  more  respectable  to  the  votaries  of  the  fash- 
ionable religions  of  thf  day  ?  How  would  they  have  char- 

• 
acterized  its  professors  as  low,  debauched,  stupid,  ignorant, 

and  even  deficient  in  the  common  attributes  of  humanity  1 
How  would  they  have  scoffed,  and  jeered,  and  mocked  them, 


204:  THE   HTTSBAND   IN  UTAH. 

prophesying  their  utter  extinction  in  a  few  short  years  ! 
There  was  an  extinction,  it  is  true  ;  but  who  were  the 
victims.  The  old  faith  disappeared — the  new  triumphed. 

The  rites  of  the  Mormon  worship  open  with  singing  and 
a  full  band  of  music.  Many  of  the  females  had  good  voices, 
and  the  strain  was  solemn  and  impressive.  When  this  was 
concluded,  Brigham  Young  offered  a  prayer,  for  "  Zion  in 
the  tops  of  the  mountains"  in  particular,  and  for  the  saints 
all  over  the  world  in  general.  The  Gentiles,  of  course^ 
were  excluded  from  the  benefits  of  this  petition.  His  dis- 
course was  short,  yet  pertinent.  He  exhorted  them  to 
obedience  and  union,  and  reminded  them  that  many  females 
were  yet  unprovided  with  husbands,  who  ought  to  be  mar- 
ried, and  giving  children  to  the  church.  "  I  think,"  he  con- 
tinued, "  that  I  have  set  you  a  good  example.  My  wives 
outnumber  those  of  David,  and  children,  like  olive-plants, 
gather  about  my  table." 

He  finished,  and  sat  down,  when  the  music  struck  up 
"  Brace's  Address,"  followed  by  "  Old  Lang  Syne."  It 
ceased,  and  Elder  Gumming  arose.  He  is  tall,  and  remark- 
ably strong-built.  While  surveying  his  athletic  form  and 
sinewy  limbs,  joined  to  a  countenance  not  particularly 
expressive  of  intelligence,  I  thought  how  much  better  he 
was  adapted  to  agriculture,  or  some  useful  mechanic  art, 
than  in  dealing  out  harangues  on  subjects  of  which  his 
audience  were  quite  as  well  qualified  to  judge  as  himself. 
His  discourse  abounded  in  anecdote,  all  relating  to  what 
seemed  of  chief  interest  to  them — taking  new  wives.  He 


THE  DUTY   OF  MEN".  205 

rated  those  women  soundly,  who,  having  the  opportunity, 
neglect  to  get  married  ;  and  said  that  a  brother  was 
deserving  of  " hell-fire"  if  he  permitted  a  woman  to  remain 
single  without  making  her  an  offer.  "  Who  cares  if  she  is 
old,  and  ugly,  and  deformed  ? — her  child  will  be  young,  and 
probably  beautiful.  If  she  has  no  child,  why,  God  has 
ordained  it,  and  you  have  done  your  duty.  When  walking 
along  the  streets,  I  make  it  a  practice  to  inquire  of  every 
stranger  woman  I  meet,  whose  wife  she  is.  To  this,  many 
of  my  sisters  here  can  testify.  If  she  tells  the  name  of  her 
husband,  I  bless  her,  and  say,  '  Go  on  your  way  rejoicing ; 
have  children,  and  rear  them  up  for  Zion  1 '  If  she  has  no 
husband,  I  bid  her  begone,  and  get  one." 

There  was  no  evidence  of  a  devotional  spirit,  though 
much  that  was  said  elicited  the  boisterous  mirth  of  the 
audience.  While  listening  to  these  discourses,  I  could  not 
help  thinking  that  the  Mormons  seemed  to  regard  marriage 
not  as  a  means  for  promoting  social  happiness,  but  solely  as 
a  method  for  the  most  convenient  propagation  of  the  race. 
Yet  this  view  is  not  novel,  and  has  been  frequently  enter- 
tained by  restless  and  aspiring  spirits.  Augustus,  after 
devastating  the  earth  to  promote  his  schemes  of  ambition, 
sought  to  replenish  it  again,  by  recommending,  and  even  in 
some  cases  enforcing,  marriage  ;  and  complained  bitterly  of 
the  dancing-girls,  and  other  women,  who  refused  to  "  give 
children  to  the  republic."  Yet,  why  did  he  wish  this  ?  To 
increase  the  sum  of  human  happiness,  or  promote  the  wel- 
fare of  the  race  ?  No  such  thing  ;  but  that  his  empire 


206  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

might  be  replenished  with  taxable  subjects,  and  his  armies 
filled  with  new  soldiers. 

Bonaparte  had  the  same  idea  in  view,  when  he  said  that 
the  greatest  woman  was  the  one  who  had  borne  the  most 
children — which  is  certainly  a  great  scandal  on  the  sex,  as 
it  must  be  better,  nobler,  greater,  to  bear,  bring  up,  and 
suitably  educate  two  children,  than  to  simply  give  birth  to 
a  dozen  poor,  miserable,  little  outcasts,  who  ultimately  come 
to  the  state-prison,  poor-house,  or  gallows. 

The  great  desire  of  the  Mormons  to  have  children,  and 
increase  in  population,  displays,  to  us,  some  ulterior  motive. 
They  are  looking  forward,  down  the  long  vista  of  the  future, 
to  wealth  and  power — to  independence,  rank,  and  distinc- 
tion, among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  The  examples  of 
Moses  and  Mohammed  are  before  them,  and  the  lessons  of 
ages  have  not  been  lost. 

But  the  service  was  yet  unfinished,  and  another  speaker 
was  on  the  floor.  His  words  were  nearly  as  follows  : 

"  Now,  my  dear  friends,  what  a  dreadful  thing  it  would 
be,  if,  after  all  your  trials  and  afflictions,  your  perils  in 
crossing  the  deep  (for  many  before  me  have  come  from 
coun-tries  beyond  the  sea) — after  all  this,  and  your  difficul- 
ties and  dangers  in  the  howling  wilderness,  what  a  dreadful 
thing  it  would  be  to  lose  your  inheritance  among  the  saints  ! 

"  Other  sins  are  venal,  other  transgressions  may  be  for- 
given, but  there  is  no  hope  for  him  who,  having  once  known 
the  good  way,  has  turned  back.  And,  my  sisters,  I  hear 
strange  reports  of  you,  which  it  grieves  me  to  mention.  I 


A.   PLEA   FOR   MARRIAGE.  207 

hear  that  some  of  you  have  become  dissatisfied  with  the 
institutions  of  our  holy  religion,  and  have  dared  to  refuse  a 
brother  in  marriage,  because  he  had  already  a  wife.  My 
sisters,  it  is  nothing  to  me — you  must  not  imagine  that  it 
makes  a  particle  of  difference  with  me — whether  you  are 
married  or  not  ;  but  it  does  make  a  difference  to  you,  and 
that  a  very  great  one.  Why,  know  you  not  that  unless  a 
woman  is  sealed  or  married  to  a  man,  and  that  man  a  true 
disciple,  there  can  be  no  hope  of  her  salvation  ? 

"  Consider  well,  then,  that  if  you  lose  your  souls — your 
precious,  immortal  souls — by  remaining  single,  you  have 
nobody  but  yourselves  to"  blame.  I  have  told  you.  You 
know  that.  And  the  good  brothers  are  ready  and  willing 
to  assist  you,  if  you  will  only  let  them.  Let  them !  Why,  a 
woman,  rather  than  remain  unmarried,  should  ask  some  elder 
or  saintly  brother  to  bestow  on  her  the  seal  of  salvation. 

"  And,  my  dear  sisters,  there  are  other  subjects  on  which 
I  wish  to  speak.  I  have  been  informed  that  some  of  you 
have  laid  stumbling-blocks  in  the  way  of  your  husbands 
when  they  have  proposed  to  seal  other  females.  You  have 
tried,  by  tears,  and  protestations,  and  rebellion,  to  hinder 
them  from  performing  such  duties.  Know  ye  not  that  these 
things  are  deserving  of  damnation  ?  Know  ye  not  that,  in 
all  tilings,  your  husbands  are  your  superiors  ;  that  they 
stand  to  you  in  the  place  of  God  ;  xand  that  obedience — • 
unqualified,  unquestioning  obedience — is  your  first,  I  had 
almost  said  your  only,  duty,  as  in  that  all  others  are  com- 
prised. 


208  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

"  Now,  my  sisters,  an  important  thing  for  yon  to  remem- 
ber is  this  :  If  your  husbands  want  more  wives,  you  must 
help  to  get  them  ;  and  then  you  must  be  peaceable,  and  not 
quarrel,  and  lie,  and  filch  from  each  other,  but  live  in  har- 
mony, with  all  loving-kindness  and  charity.  What  a  dread- 
ful thing  it  would  be  if  the  soul  of  one  woman,  through 
your  opposition  to  her  union  with  your  husband,  should  be 
lost  1  And,  being  in  torments  unspeakable,  would  she  not 
forever  cry  out  against  you  ?" 

There  was  much  more  in  a  similar  strain  and  to  the  same 
purpose,  though,  as  literary  efforts,  they  were  beneath  criti- 
cism. 

I  returned  home  for  dinner,  and,  while  we  were  at  table, 
Mr.  Inkley  inquired  my  opinion  of  the  last  discourse,  declar- 
ing that  it  met  his  unqualified  approbation. 

"  Then  you  will  be  on  the  lookout  for  another  wife,  I 
suppose,"  was  my  reply,  glancing  towards  Sarah,  who  sat  at 
the  table.  She  tossed  her  head,  with  an  expression  of  the 
deepest  scorn. 

"  That  such  -is  my  duty,  I  own,"  he  said,  with  affected 
gravity ;  "  though  it  sorely  taxes  my  energies  to  provide  for 
those  I  now  have." 

"  Well  thought  of  1"  ejaculated  Sarah. 

"  It  would  be  a  pity,"  I  said,  "  for  any  woman  to  lose  her 
immortal  soul,  because  no  man  could  afford  to  find  her  in 
bread  and  butter.  She  might  be  sealed,  to  secure  her  sal* 
vation,  and  then  left  to  take  care  of  herself." 

"  That  is  the  way  with  many  of  them,"  said  Sarah. 


A  CUKIOUS   GUARANTEE  TO   SALVATION.  209 

11  Of  who  ?" 

"  Why,  these  women  that  work  about  as  nurses  and 
assistants  in  families.  You  saw  that  very  old  lady  who  sat 
just  before  you,  I  suppose  ?" 

"  That  one  dressed  in  black,  who  seemed  so  deeply  inter 
ested  in  the  services  ?"  I  asked. 

"  The  same,"  she  answered.  "  Well,  that  old  woman  is 
eighty-five  next  September,  and  she  has  been  sealed  to 
Brigham  Young  just  one  month.  She  came  on  here  with 
her  children,  though  an  unbeliever.  But,  recently,  she 
became  a  convert,  and  the  next  thing  was  to  be  sealed.  In 
consequence  of  her  age  and  infirmities,  the  brothers  hesi- 
tated to  perform  the  duty,  until  the  first  and  best  one  of 
all,  touched  by  the  consideration  of  her  necessities,  con- 
sented to  become  her  husband,  on  the  condition  that  she 
should  remain  with  her  children,  and  not  be  dependent  on 
him  for  support  or  a  home."  . 

"  Then  I  suppose  that  the  prophet  has  many  such  wives, 
or  sealed  ones  ?" 

"  He  has,"indeed,  more  than  any  one  knows  of — probably 
more  than  he  remembers  himself." 

"And  this  is  considered  a  certain  guarantee  of  salva- 
tion ?" 

"It  is  ;  and  hence  young  girls  and  maidens  are  often 
sealed  long  before  the  age  of  puberty.  I  have  witnessed 
the  sealing  of  children  not  more  than  eight  years  old." 

"  I  have  never  heard  of  this  before." 

"  Very  likely.    There  are  many  things  among  us  that  you 


210  THE    nrSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

have  never  heard  of  ;  many  rites  and  ceremonies  known  only 
to  the  initiated  ;  many  plans  and  purposes  you  could  never 


"  But  this  sealing  of  young  girls  is  against  nature  and 
religion." 

"  Not  more  so  than  betrothals  among  the  Jews,  and  yet 
this  people  had  a  warrant  direct  from  heaven  for  all  they  did." 

"  The  examples  of  the  Jews  have  been  frequently  quoted 
to  furnish  props  for  bad  and  mistaken  conduct  or  ideas,  by 
bad  or  mistaken  men,"  I  replied.  "  It  is  not  for  me  to 
define  or  limit  how  far  such  practices  were  expedient  under 
their  laws,  and  the  circumstances  of  their  society.  It  is 
enough  for  us  that  here,  and  in  this  age,  the  marriage  rela- 
tion is  thereby  degraded,  and  the  happiness  of  thousands 
unrelentingly  sacrificed.  What  sensations  must  the  be- 
trothal of  a  child  to  a  man  old  enough  to  be  her  father 
excite  1  How  can  she  ever  regard  him  with  those  feelings 
of  affection  which  are  indispensably  necessary  to  render  the 
marriage  state  one  of  happiness  ?" 

"  She  can  at  least  be  obedient." 

"  Seriously  and  candidly,  Mrs.  Inkley,"  I  replied,  "  can 
you  find  it  in  your  heart  to  approve  of  these  things  ?  If 
you  had  a  young  and  beautiful  daughter,  would  not  all  the 
better  feelings  of  your  nature  revolt  against  her  forming 
such  an  unnatural  connection  ?  Could  you  in  silence  behold 
the  sacrifice  of  all  her  prospects  of  happiness,  and  know 
and  feel  that  nothing  in  this  wide  world  was  left  for  her  but 
obedience  to  the  caprices  and  whims  of  a  tyrant  ?" 


211 


11  Really,  sir,  I  cannot  argue  this  question  with  you,"  she 
replied.  "  Yet  the  Scriptures  require  obedience  in  the  wife, 
you  know,  and  make  the  husband  stand  in  the  same  relation 
to  her  that  Christ  does  to  the  church." 

"  And  again  I  must  say  that  how  far  such  passages  are 
to  be  received  in  an  unqualified  sense,  I  shall  not  pretend  to 
decide,  but  that  they  were  ever  meant  to  compel  any  woman, 
immortal  and  accountable,  under  any  circumstances  what- 
ever, to  submit  to  polygamy,  and  practices  so  detestable  as 
these  *  sealings/  I  venture  to  discredit." 

•"And  so  do  I,"  said  Martha  Inkley,  who  had  entered  the 
room  unnoticed,  and  seemed  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  disa- 
gree with  her  rival.  "  These  'settlings 'of  children  are — I 
will  not  say  what." 

She  had  caught  the  expression  of  her  husband's  eye,  but 
it  could  not  silence  her. 

"  There  was  brother  Haywood's  daughter,"  she  continued, 
"  a  beautiful  little  girl,  in  short  skirts  and  pantalets,  who 
came  into  the  room,  to  be  sealed  to  a  man  four  times  her 
age,  while  crying  for  her  doll  and  baby  things  ;  and  when 
the  new-made  husband  attempted  to  embrace  her,  she  fled, 
screaming  that  he  was  big  and  ugly,  and  she  did  not  like 
him.  Is  it  likely  that,  as  years  advance,  she  will  grow 
fonder  of  him,  or  more  reconciled  to  her  lot  ?" 

"An  extreme  case,"  said  Inkley,  blandly. 

"Not  exactly  an  extreme  case,  either,"  replied  Martha. 
"  You  know  very  well  that  Hannah  May  had  to  be  held  by 


212  THE  HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

main  force  while  the  ceremony  of  her  sealing  was  going  on. 
How  she  shrieked,  and  screamed,  and  protested  against  it, 
declaring  that  if  she  couldn't  have  Frederick  Barnes,  her 
youthful  playmate,  she  wouldn't  be  married  at  all  1" 

"  But  she  hadn't  arrived  at  the  years  of  discretion,"  said 
the  husband. 

"Years  of  discretion  or  not,  it  was  a  shame  and  an 
abomination  to  force  her  into  such  a  connection  1" 

I  thought  as  much. 

"  Why,"  continued  Martha,  "  a  man  will  marry  two  or 
three  sisters,  as  brother  Warner  did.  He  married  one,  and 
then,  to  please  his  wife,  he  took  her  sister,  and,  finally,  the 
mother  of  both,  and  they  all  had  children. by  him.  I  asked 
sister  Warner  what  relationship  the  children  held  to  each 
other.  She  only  laughed." 

During  our  conversation,  the  people  were  gathering  for 
the  afternoon  service.  Their  singular  appearance  attracted 
my  attention.  One  man  passed  along  with  his  six  wives, 
three  on  either  side  of  him,  lovingly  locking  arms.  An- 
other company  passed,  the  man  ahead,  and  his  four  wives 
following  in  single  file.  There  was  no  established  rule  or 
fashion,  but  all  were  at  perfect  liberty  to  walk  single, 
double,  or  treble,  as  suited  them  best.  Suddenly,  my  atten- 
tion was  arrested  by  a  female  walking  alone,  and  without 
any  apparent  connection  with  the  passing  crowd.  She 
looked  towards  the  window  where  I  sat,  and  I  had  a  very 
distinct  view  of  her  features.  She  was  beautiful,  though 
somewhat  faded. 


SEARCH  FOR   MISS   SCOTT.  213 

11  That  lady— who  .is  she  1"  I  asked,  addressing  Mrs. 
Inkley. 

"What  her  name  may  now  be,  I  cannot  say,"  she  replied. 
"  Her  maiden  name  was  Scott." 

"Miss  Scott !    I  have  known  her.   Where  does  she  live?" 

"  I  cannot  say.  I  know  nothing  about  her,  though  I  have 
heard  that— that " 

"  That  what  ?" 

"That  she  had  been  the  mistress  of  a  soldier  who  had 
deserted  her,  and  that  now  she  was  picking  up  a  living  as 
she  best  could." 

The  remembrance  of  her  father's  anxiety,  and  my  pro- 
mise to  him,  flashed  into  my  mind. 

"  I  must  see  her,"  I  said,  seizing  my  hat. 

"  You  have  just  seen  her,"  said  Sarah,  laughing. 

"  But  I  wish  to  talk  with  her." 

The  women  glanced  at  each  other. 

"  I  was  acquainted  with  her  father,"  I  said.  "  He  was 
very  anxious  about  her." 

"  That  was  perfectly  natural,"  said  Sarah,  with  some- 
thing like  a  sneer.  I  said  no  more,  but  walked  out  at  the 
door.  Miss  Scott,  however,  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  I  walked 
up  one  street  and  down  another,  all  to  no  purpose.  Inquir- 
ing would  have  been  useless,  and  I  thought  that  possibly 
she  might  have  gone  to  the  Tabernacle.  So  thither  I  went, 
but  the  immense  concourse,  even  greater  than  that  in  the 
forenoon,  effectually  precluded  individual  recognition,  and  T 
was  glad  to  get  away  long  before  the  service  closed. 


214  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 


CHAPTER  Xfl. 

THE  COUNCIL  OF  HEALTH MIRACLES — DREAMS,  AND  SOME  OTHER 

THINGS. 

THREE  months  among  the  Mormons,  and  thus  far  treat- 
ed with  consideration  and  respect. 

"  Oh,  I  pity  you,"  says  one,  "  shut  up  in  the  seclusion  of 
the  Great  Basin  for  three  long  months." 

But  my  good  friend,  there  is  no  occasion  for  your  pity  ; 
my  time  has  passed  pleasantly,  I  might  say  happily.  I  have 
found,  and  I  trust  made,  friends. 

Long  ago  I  learned  that  if  only  one  spot  of  sunshine 
appeared,  to  monopolize  it  ;  if  only  one  flower  grew  in  my 
path,  to  be  sure  and  notice  that;  to  scrutinize  ugly  faces  for 
the  one  handsome  feature,  and  to  look  for  something  cheer- 
ing in  all  dismal  prospects.  I  confess  that  sometimes  my 
resolution  has  almost  vanished,  and  that  while  looking  at 
the  Mormons  my  faith  in  human  nature  has  been  sorely 
tested.  I  have  grown  weary  of  describing  unpleasant 
scenes.  I  would  much  rather  write  of  virtues  than  vices  ;  of 
good,  and  pure,  and  honest  men,  than  wicked  and  dishonest 
ones.  Byron  said  that  he  described  men  as  they  were,  not 


MORMON    MIKACLES.  215 

as  they  should  be,  and  that  nothing  in  his   descriptions  or 
characters  had  ever  equalled  the  reality. 

In  the  propagation  of  a  new  faith  it  usually  happens  that 
dreams,  visions,  miracles,  and  supernatural  appearances  and 
occurrences  are  the  stock  in  trade.  It  is  comparatively 
much  easier  to  influence  the  imagination  than  convince  the 
judgment,  hence  credulity  rather  than  reason  is  addressed. 

The  Mormons  will  tell  you  of  great  cures  wrought  by 
their  priests.  They  will  tell  you  of  instances  where  the  sick 
have  recovered  beneath  their  magic  touch  ;  they  will  point 
out  on  the  necks  and  limbs  of  their  children  the  scars  of 
great  sores  that  have  been  healed  ;  they  will  tell  you  of  the 
blind  having  recovered  their  eye-sight,  and  the  deaf  their 
hearing.  Shall  we  dispute  that  such  things  sometimes 
occur  after  the  recent  experiments  in  electro-magnetism, 
especially  when  we  consider  the  powerful  influence  of  imagi- 
nation over  a  certain  class  of  diseases. 

The  question  arises,  are  the  priests  impostors,  or  are  they 
the  dupes  of  their  own  credulity  ?  I  am  inclined  to  think 
the  latter.  Few  of  them  have  any  knowledge  of  the 
natural  sciences,  or  the  philosophy  that  traces  effects  to 
their  cause. 

"  There  can  be  nothing  supernatural,"  I  remarked,  to 
Mr.  -  Inkley.  "  Your  people  should  be  too  enlightened  to 
believe  in  miracles,  in  the  general  acceptation  of  that 
term." 

"The  most  enlightened  men  in  your  Gentile  Churches 
believe  in  them,"  he  replied,  gravely. 


216  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

"  ^N  ot  as  you,"  I  answered. 

"And  yet,  you  must  know  that  had  not  your  church 
inculcated  the  belief  that  miracles  were  of  common  occur- 
rence eighteen  centuries  ago,  the  Mormons  in  this  age  would 
never  have  dreamed  of  promulgating  such  an  idea.  But 
the  possibility  of  supernatural  events  being  granted,  the 
cavil  all  rests  on  a  question  of  time,  which  is  nothing. (h.) 

In  conclusion,  Mr.  Inkley  invited  me  to  attend  with  him  a 
meeting  of  the  Council  of  Health,  at  Social  Hall.  To  my 
inquiries,  if  I  would  not  be  considered  in  the  light  of  an 
intruder,  he  replied  in  the  negative,  and  said  that  the  sisters 
were  always  pleased  with  the  attendance  of  gentlemen, 
particularly  strangers,  for  whom  a  seat  was  left  empty. 

"  Is  it  then  a  meeting  of  the  sisters  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Certainly." 

"Then  you  have  your  strong-minded  women  here.  I 
thought  that  class  peculiar  to  the  North." 

'*  With  this  slight  difference,  your  strong-minded  females 
are*  generally  old  maids,  in  whose  bosoms  the  milk  of  human 
kindness  has  become  sour,  whereas  ours  are — are  " 

"Married  women,"  I  suggested,  "whose  lives  are  embit- 
tered by  the  neglect  and  indifference  of  their  husbands  ;  a 
fate  to  which  that  of  the  old  maid  is  ten  times  prefer- 
able." 

I  found,  on  further  inquiry,  that  the  sisters  assembled  at 
this  meeting  to  talk  over  their  various  aches  and  complaints, 
and  discuss  the  most  approved  methods  of  cure.  All  phy- 
sicians are  entitled  to  a  seat  among  them,  with  a  voice  in 


THE   COUNCIL   OF   HEALTH.  217 

their  deliberations  ;  so  are  the  priests  and  elders,  while 
strangers  are  admitted  to  see  and  be  seen.  We  went  early 
and  obtained  good  seats.  At  least  sixty-five  females  were 
in  attendance,  who,  so  far  as  I  could  discover,  presented 
nothing  remarkable  in  appearance.  They  looked  exactly 
like  any  other  promiscuous  gathering  of  women,  old  and 
young,  gay  and  sad,  pretty  and  ugly  ;  coarse  and  vulgar  iu 
some  cases,  but  intelligent  and  refined  in  others. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Dr.  High,  who  made 
some  appropriate  remarks  on  the  blessings  of  health,  and 
the  violation  of  physical  laws,  to  which  all  diseases  must  be 
attributed. 

He  was  followed  by  Dr.  Speight,  who  begged  leave  to 
dissent  from  his  worthy  brother  in  many  important  particu- 
lars. It  was  very  plain  to  him  that  sickness  was  often 
superinduced  by  a  direct  interposition  of  Divine  Providence. 
Pestilence  fell  on  the  Israelites  as  a  judgment  from  Heaven, 
because  of  the  sin  of  David  ;  Job  was  smitten  with  a  hor- 
rible disease  to  try  his  faith,  and  even  in  our  own  age,  he 
contended,  that  similar  events  had  happened,  and  might 
happen  again. 

It  was  £asy  to  see  that  the  last  speaker  was  a  particular 
favorite  with  the  sisters,  especially  those  whose  countenance, 
appearance,  and  manner  indicated  the  lower  class  of  igno- 
rance. The  female  mind  is  naturally  prone  to  superstition 
in  its  uncultivated  state.  Sister  Newman,  one  of  this 
stripe,  was  evidently  aching  to  get  the  floor.  She  manifest- 
ed great  uneasiness,  wringing,  twisting,  and  rocking  to  and 


218  THE    HUSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

fro.  The  moment  he  sat  down  she  bounded  up,  and  began 
a  tirade  against  such  infidel  teachers  as  Dr.  High.  She 
knowed,  indeed  she  did,  that  sickness  went  just  where  it 
was  sent — that  God  was  pleased  to  afflict  some  people  more 
than  he  did  others,  and  that  the  best  ones  generally  were 
most  afflicted. 

"  You  know  I  am  nearly  always  sick,  but  then  I  feel  that 
it  does  me  good.  Last  winter  in  that  spell  I  had  I  could 
almost  touch  the  hem  of  His  garment " 

"Because  I  gave  her  so  much  opium,"  whispered  Dr. 
High. 

"  Could  touch  the  hem  of  His  garment,"  she  continued, 
"and  that's  just  the  way,  when  I  am  well,  if  the  heavenly 
dew  descends,  I  am  so  much  like  a  cake  of  tallow,  that  it 
rolls  off  and  leaves  no  impression,  but  when  I  am  sick,  why 
then,  my  dear  friends,  I  am  just  like  a  muslin  sheet,  one 
drop  wets  me  all  over." 

The 'absurdity  of  these  comparisons  excited  a  slight  titter 
at  her  expense,  when  she  dropped  spitefully  into  her  seat, 
and  sister  Harris  arose.  She  was  a  little  vulgar-looking 
woman,  with  a  countenance  expressive  of  dissipation  and 
sensuality,  and  her  speech  Was  a  strange  compound  of 
superstition  and  absurdity.  She  commenced  by  expressing 
her  belief  that  the  devil  was  let  loose,  and  that  Mormon 
women  were  the  especial  objects  of  his  wrath  and  hatred. 
This  she  declared  to  be  all  wrong — said  that  they  ought  not 
to  be  subject  to  pain  in  any  case,  but  that  disease  and  even 
death,  must  be  banished  from  among  them,  and  go  to  the 


SISTER   LIPPINCOTT'S    KEMEDY.  219 

Gentiles  to  whom  they  belonged — that  God  was  about  to 
glorify  his  name  by  cutting  off  the  rotten  nations  of  the 
earth,  when  all  would  be  Mormons,  and  in  a  state  of  felicity 
somewhat  resembling  the  denizens  of  Mohammed's  Paradise. 
She  was  succeeded  by  sister  Lippincott,  who  seemed  to 
think  that  all  their  difficulties  and  troubles  were  occasioned 
by  their  not  loving  their  husbands  enough,  and  being  as 
obedient  to  them  as  they  ought.  It  was  a  rambling  tirade, 
and  as  often  happens  at  female  meetings,  those  least  capable 
of  speaking  monopolized  the  floor.  She  concluded  by  re- 
commending catnip  tea  as  a  remedy  in  certain  complaints, 
at  which  sister  Gibbs  started  up,  declaring  that  catnip  tea 
was  good  for  nothing,  but  that  enough  lobelia  would  drive 
all  the  devils  out.  The  quantity  necessary  to  perform  this 
wonder  she  did  not  prescribe.  At  length  she  began  jump- 
ing up  and  down,  clapping  her  hands,  and  crying  out,  "  The 
spirit  is  upon  me,  the  spirit  is  upon  me,  even  now  as  it  des- 
cended on  the  Apostles  at  the  day  of  Pentecost."  Then  she 
broke  .forth  into  a  strain  that  they  called  speaking  in  an 
unknown  tongue.  She  was  certainly  phrenzied  or  intoxi- 
cated. I  am  inclined  to  think  the  latter.  Her  language 
and  gestures  were  actually  indescribable,  but  soon  ended  in 
complete  exhaustion,  when  she  fell  to  the  floor.  The  sisters 
crowded  around  her,  raised  her  up,  and  laid  her  at  full 
length  on  one  of  the  seats.  One  of  the  elders  then  arose 
and  attempted  to  interpret  what  she  said,  but  the  noise  and 
confusion  had  become  so  great  that  it  was  impossible  for  me 
to  hear  what  he  said. 


220  THE  HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 

Iiikley,  who  seemed  amazed,  and  I  fancied  felt  disgusted  at 
the  scene,  proposed  to  go  away.  Several  of  the  more  re- 
spectable and  intelligent  women  actually  departed.  I  wished 
however,  to  see  the  end.  The  inspired  sister  soon  fell  asleep 
and  order  was  restored.  Sister  Sanders  then  arose,  and 
expressed  her  firm  belief  that  all  diseases,  acute  or  chronic 
might  be  cured  by  the  exercise  of  faith  and  the  laying  on  of 
hands,  and  dealt  largely  in  her  own  miraculous  powers. 
She  could  ease  the  most  violent  toothache,  she  saii,  by 
simply  rubbing  her  hands  over  the  part  affected,  and  com- 
manding the  pain  to  depart.  She  could  stop  hemorrhages 
of  the  most  extravagant  character,  and  last,  though  by  no 
means  least,  a  word  from  her  would  restore  a  dislocated 
joint,  or  mend  a  broken  bone.  Her  sister's  arm  had  been 
badly  injured  by  some  unlucky  accident,  and  she  roundly 
asserted  that  it  had  been  instantaneously  recovered  by  the 
exercise  of  her  power.  One  woman  had  a  daughter  present 
who  was  afflicted  with  some  cutaneous  disease,  and  who 
desired  to  have  the  remedy  applied.  The  sisters,  with  the 
priests  and  elders,  crowded  around  her,  laid  their  hands  on 
her  head  and  person,  when  one  of  the  most  eminent  was 
moved  to  bless  her  in  an  unknown  tongue.  The  oracular 
utterances  were  interpreted  to  mean  the  invocation  of  great 
blessings,  both  temporal  and  spiritual ;  she  was  to  possess 
all  necessary  good,  all  that  the  heart  or  sense  could  desire  ; 
her  seed  was  to  outnumber  the  stars,  and  thence  kings  and 
priests  were  to  arise.  She  looked,  however,  as  if  some 
guarantee  for  the  comforts  and  necessaries  of  life  would  be 


AN   AILING   PAKTT.  221 

much  more  acceptable.  She  was  scarcely  sixteen,  and  yet 
had  been  married  for  some  time.  One  child  held  to  her 
clothes,  another  was  in  her  lap,  and  there  was  evidently  the 
prospect  of  a  third.  There  were  unmistakable  indications 
of  poverty  in  her  general  appearance.  She  was  poorly  clad, 
and,  I  doubt  not,  ill-fed. 

After  this  others  came  forward  ;  some  had  aches  in  one 
part,  others  had  pains  in  another.  One  was  bruised,  ano- 
ther wounded,  a  third  was  sick,  a  fourth  had  the  fever  ;  in 
short,  I  was  strongly  reminded  of  an  excellent  old  lady,  who 
was  great  for  visiting  among  her  neighbors,  and  whose 
enumeration  of  the  complaints  incident  to  her  family  was 
summed  up  in  the  following  amusing  style  :  "  Jemmy  has  a 
boil  on  his  hip,  and  Jerry  a  cut  on  his  leg  ;  my  husband  is 
very  poorly,  and  so  much  ails  me  that  I  really  don't  know 
what  to  complain  of."  It  really  seemed  that  there  was  not 
a  sound  person  in  the  community,  at  least  in  the  house. 
All  were  full  to  overflowing  of  the  troubles  and  afflictions 
which  had  befallen  their  neighbors  or  themselves.  Yet 
this  trait  of  humanity  is  not  peculiar  to  the  Mormons.  For 
a  grievous  list  of  ailments  and  sicknesses,  commend  me  at 
any  time  to  a  party  of  old  women  in  the  lower  classes  of 
life.  I  was  once  greatly  amused  by  a  woman  of  ordinary 
intelligence,  who,  according  to  her  phraseology,  "never 
saw  a  well  day,"  who  always  kept  a  dish  of  "  systic,"  or 
some  other  kind  of  herb  tea  in  the  corner,  and  who  was 
exceedingly  angry  if  the  physician  did  not  call  at  least 


222  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

twice  a  week  to  inquire  after  her  health,  though  he  could 
never  find  her  at  home. 

This  interesting  part  of  the  business  being  finished,  it 
was  proposed  to  adjourn.  Sister  Petit,  however,  objected, 
as  she  had  a  remarkable  vision  to  narrate.  This  was 
neither  more  nor  less  than  a  tremendous  conflict  between 
the  Lord  and  the  devil,  which  closely  resembled  in  its 
minute  particulars  the  famous  fight  between  Apollyon  and 
Christian,  recorded  by  Bunyan,  in  the  Pilgrim's  Progress. 
For  a  long  time  the  battle  raged  witlv  equal  spirit  on  both 
sides,  but  the  Lord  triumphed  in  the  end,  and  his  sooty 
majesty  was  driven  away.  There  was  much  more  of  similar 
absurdity.  In  review  of  these  things,  we  find  ourselves 
involuntarily  asking  how  it  could  be  possible  for  a  system 
of  religious  faith,  like  Mormonism,  to  arise  and  flourish  as 
that  has  done,  unless  some  equally  superstitious  tendencies 
of  education  were  at  work  on  the  public  mind  ? 

Looking  at  Mormonism  philosophically,  we  shall  find  little 
in  it  that  is  original.  It  is  an  offshoot  of  Judaism,  with  a 
little  borrowed  from  Christianity  to  make  it  palatable  to  the 
present  age.  Thus,  if  you  deprecate  to  a  Mormon  the  idea 
of  paying  tithes,  he  will  refer  you  at  once  to  Abraham,  who 
gave  tithes  of  all  he  possessed  to  Melchisedek.  If  you  com- 
plain of  polygamy,  he  will  tell  you  of  Jacob,  -and  David,  and 
Solomon,  and  thus  to  the  end  of  the  chapter.  Think  you  if 
priestcraft  had  not  so  flourished  in  other  countries,  it  ever 
would  have  abounded  as  it  does  in  Utah  ?  It  is  not  difficult 
for  a  believer  hi  spirits  to  believe  in  the  spirit  rappings. 


BINS   OF   OMISSION.  223 

Yet  it  argues  little  for  the  progress  of  the  age  that  this 
spurious  and  prurient  birth  should  belong  to  the  afternoon 
of  the  nineteenth  century.  We  might  have  hoped  and 
looked  for  better  things.  Is  it  not  significant  of  an  unpa- 
latable truth  ?  Does  it  not  prove  conclusively  that  the 
advancement  in  moral  and  religious  ideas  has  not  kept  pace 
with  that  of  the  physical  sciences  ;  that,  notwithstanding 
railroads,  steamboats,  and  telegraphs,  we  are  yet  hanging 
to  the  skirts  of  the  past,  fettered  by  its  superstitions,  and 
imitating  its  vices. 

Let  no  one  think  that  I  am  attempting  to  excuse  or 
palliate  the  vices  of  the  Mormons.  I  quarrel  with  na  man's 
creed  except  so  far  as  it  tends  to  make  him  vicious  and  dan- 
gerous to  the  community.  Many  things  are  simply  absurd, 
and  an  assembly  of  old  women,  like  those  attending  the 
Council  of  Health,  could  scarcely  have  deserved  a  passing 
notice,  only  as  tending  to  show  how  human  hearts,  even  in 
this  enlightened  age,  may  be  darkened  by  superstition.  In 
any  other  view,  it  was  probably  one  of  the  most  harmless 
assemblages  that  ever  convened  in  Utah. 

But  there  are  things  for  which  we  must  and  do  blame  the 
Mormons,  more  even  than  for  polygamy  and  kindred  vices. 
Great  as  may  be  their  sins  of  commission,  those  of  omission 
are  certainly  greater.  They  will  meet  you  on  all  sides  with 
Scripture  quotations,  and  bring  the  examples  of  patriarchs 
and  prophets  to.  sanction  their  adoption  of  old  cus  toms  and 
ancient  usages,  but  it  is  only  on  the  side  which  tends  to 
blacken  and  deform  humanity.  The  great  r*nd  eminent 


224  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

virtues  of  these  same  men  are  never  set  up  as  examples  fol 
imitation.  Their  honesty,  their  truth,  their  moral  integrity 
their  unflinching  adherence  to  the  right,  is  made  of  little  or 
no  account ;  but  the  one  fault  into  which  they  were 
betrayed  by  the  age,  or  the  circumstances  in  which  they 
lived,  oh  !  that  is  something  to  copy  and  applaud.  We 
must  blame  the  Mormons  for  reading  our  Bible  as  they  do. 
You  cannot  open  this  book  without  finding  on  its  eldest  or 
newest  leaves  the  purest  and  holiest  lessons  of  truth  and 
virtue,  given  in  words  that  burn  after  the  lapse  of  ages,  yet 
all  this  they  pass  over  with  neglect  and  indifference. 

We  blame  them  that  they  have  retarded  the  progress  of 
the  age,  and  blackened  the  development  of  great  and  good 
ideas  in  the  womb  of  time.  The  world,  mankind,  the  nine- 
teenth century  all  demanded  a  teacher  not  to  instruct  them 
in  the  doctrines  of  a  new  faith,  but  to  diffuse  vitality  into 
the  old.  They  demanded  a  knowledge  of  the  Infinite  God, 
of  the  real  man,  not  the  fabulous,  of  actual  divine  Scrip- 
tures, not  pregnant  with  dead  forms  and  meaningless  cere- 
monies, but  filled  with  love,  charity,  and  good-will  to  men. 
They  wanted  a  live  religion  that  should  manifest  itself  in  all 
the  daily  walk  and  conversation,  as  well  on  the  broad  high- 
way of  letters,  business,  science,  politics,  or  morals,  as  in 
the  quiet  seclusion  of  the  cloister  or  the  domestic  shade. 
They  asked  a  leader  in  a  great  religious  movement,  a  pro- 
gressive enterprise.  All  things  betoken  this.  Never  before 
has  the  world  witnessed  such  a  grand  conflict  between  the 
powers  of  light  and  darkness,  between  science  and  igno- 


FALSITY   OF   THE   MOKMON   SYSTEM.  225 

ranee,  between  the  crumbling  systems  of  the  past,  and  the 
rising  phoenix  of  the  present.  We  must  blame  the  Mormons 
for  rising  up  at  such  a  time  to  deceive  mankind  with  an 
egregious  system  of  folly  that  copies  the  past  in  its  vices, 
and  looks  for  its  future  to  the  worst  passions  of  men.  We 
must  blame  them,  that  with  such  opportunities  fdf  doing 
good,  they  failed  to  do  it,  that  in  such  a  vast  field  of  culture 
they  only  planted  the  old,  dry,  unprofitable  weeds,  which 
civilization  and  Christianity  bad  thrown  away  as  vile  and 
noxious,  though  superstition  and  barbarism  had  preserved 
the  seeds. 

What  if  their  followers  are  the  poor,  the  lowly,  even  the 
stupidly  ignorant,  or  the  vile.  Publicans  and  sinners  were 
the  companions  of  our  Lord  at  table  ;  it  was  to  babes  in 
knowledge  that  the  glorious  tidings  of  the  Gospel  were 
revealed.  Does  it  not  show  a  remissness  in  our  churches 
that  these  weak  ones,  whose  souls,  however,  are  as  precious, 
and  whose  happiness  is  as  much  worth  caring  for,  as  that  of 
the  monarch  on  his  throne — that  these  weak  ones,  I  say, 
should  be  left  to  herd  with  impostors,  and  swell  the  number 
of  their  dupes.  Does  it  not  prove  that  Christianity  is  no 
longer  the  glad  tidings  of  great  joy  to  all  people,  but  rather 
to  the  rich  and  great. 


226  THE   HUSBAND  IN   UTAH. 


M: 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

REMOVAL — MY   NEW   LANDLADY MISS    SCOTT,  ETC. 

"R.  INK  LEY  came  to  my  room  one  morning  before  I 
had  arisen.  There  had  never  been  any  lock  to  tho 
door,  and  entrance  was  readily  effected.  Greatly  surprised, 
I  bade  him  "  Good  morning,"  while  he  seated  himself  with 
equal  composure  on  the  side  of  the  bed. 

"  Your  sojourn  with  me  has  been  pleasant,  sir,  very  plea- 
sant," he  began.  "  I  have  striven  to  make  it  so.  I  believe 
I  have  succeeded." 

"  Yes,"  I  replied,  in  rather  a  stereotyped  phrase.  "  I 
have  been  quite  as  happy  as  could  be  expected." 

"  And  more  so,"  he  answered.  "  You  could  not  certainly 
have  expected  to  find  such  friends  as  you  have  found. 
Haven't  I  administered  to  your  comfort  in  every  way  ? 
Haven't  I  gratified  your  curiosity,  even  at  the  expense  of 
disgracing  the  church  of  which  I  am  a  leader  ?  And  thi» 
room — what  a  beautiful  room  it  is — so  apt  and  fit  for  lodg 
ing." 


FAMILY  PEACE!  227 

I  replied  that  the  apartment  was  quite  satisfactory. 

"  Then  you  will  feel  regret  at  leaving  us,  if  only  on  that 
account." 

"  Leave  you,  when  ?  I  had  not  thought  of  leaving  you 
till  I  left  the  country,"  I  said,  with  some  surprise,  "  unless, 
indeed,  you  desired  it." 

"  I  have  not  desired  it,  no  sir,  not  I  j  but  a  husband, 
though,  presumed  by  the  law  of  the  States  to  be  one  with 
wife,  is  rather  overshadowed  when  the  number  expands  to 
three  or  four.  Family  peace,  sir,  is  a  great  thing — a  very 
great  thing  ;  a  man  must  make  sacrifices  to  secure  that — 
sacrifices,  too,  that  are  sometimes  very  trying  to  his  feel- 
ings." 

"  Am  I  then  to  understand,  sir,  that  your  wives  desire  my 
departure  ?" 

"  Exactly  so,  sir  ;  at  least  Sarah  does." 

"  In  what  have  I  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  offend  that 
lady  ?" 

"  Women  are  captious,  sir — very  captious,  capricious,  and 
whimsical,  of  course  you  know  that.  Domestic  peace,  sir, 
is  a  great  thing.  Sorry  that  it  is  so,  but  can't  help  it  ; 
spoiled  children  must  be  humored." 

"  I  understand  ;  if  my  presence  has  become  obnoxious  to 
Mrs.  Inkley,  I  can  only  express  sorrow  for  the  fact,  without 
the  least  idea  of  the  cause." 

"  Nothing,  sir,  just  nothing.  I  believe  it  all  originated 
in  that  conversation  the  other  day,  in  which  you  rather 
favored  the  opinion  of  Martha." 


228  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

"  But  Mrs.  Inkley  certainly  cannot  blame  a  man  for  the 
free  expression  of  his  opinions." 

"  Oh,  she  don't  know  herself.  She's  whimsical,  that's  all 
— but  domestic  peace  " 

Yes,  domestic  peace,  and  the  idea  that  even  my  absence 
would  secure  that  in  a  family  with  three  wives,  had  some- 
thing in  it  strangely  in  contrast  with  the  nature  of  things. 
I  was  not  disposed,  however,  to  make  ill-natured  remarks, 
especially  as  he  offered  me  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Mrs. 
Farrow,  an  amiable  Mormon  lady,  who  lived  at  the  eastern 
end  of  the  city. 

After  breakfast  I  started  out,  soon  made  my  way  to  that 
part  of  the  town,  found  the  good  woman,  presented  my 
letter,  and  was  well  received.  I  was  much  pleased  with  the 
situation  of  her  adobe  cottage,  and  her  own  mild,  intelli- 
gent countenance,  and  we  soon  struck  a  bargain.  I  removed 
thither  immediately,  and  was  acconmiodated  with  an  agree- 
able, well-ventilated  chamber,  the  windows  of  which  looked 
out  on  some  grounds,  well  laid  out,  and  planted  with  beau- 
tiful flowers,  native  and  exotic.  The  prospect  is  extensive, 
and  stretches  away  on  the  south  to  a  great  distance  ;  north 
and  east  the  mountains  appear,  through  which  the  emigrant 
trains  find  their  way  into  the  valley.  Mountains  likewise 
appear  on  the  western  side,  their  summits  tipped  with  snow 
the  greater  part  of  the  year.  Antelope  Island,  in  the  Salt 
Lake,  is  distinctly  visible,  though  at  a  distance  of  twenty- 
two  miles.  Thus,  the  sublime  and  the  beautiful  of  nature 
are  wonderfully  and  harmoniously  blended. 


MISS   SNOW,   THE   POETESS.  229 

Mrs.  Farrow  was  an  active,  kind,  and  lady-like  New 
Englander  ;  a  rigid  Mormon  on  all  points  except  polygamy, 
which  she  seemed  to  thoroughly  detest.  She  held  a  promi- 
nent position  in  society,  and  her  house  was  the  frequent 
resort  of  visitors.  Among  these  Eliza  Snow  shone  conspicu- 
ously. She  is  a  pale,  mild-eyed,  silly-looking  girl,  though  she 
aspires  to  poetic  honors,  and  many  of  her  productions  have 
received  the  unqualified  approbation  of  the  immaculate 
Mormon  leader  ;  yet,  considered  as  literary  efforts,  they  are 
beneath  criticism.  Her  conversation  is  not  more  delectable 
than  her  poetry,  and  for  conceited  egotism  was  really 
unmatchable. 

.  "  I  am  not  appreciated  here,"  she  said.  "  I  cannot  asso- 
ciate with  kindred  spirits  ;  there  is  no  one  to  sympathize 
with  my  feelings.  I  must  have  a  field  of  labor.  I  must  go 
where  I  can  spread  myself."  This  she  repeated  several 
times,  to  my  infinite  amusement,  while  Mrs.  Farrow's  fat 
sides  fairly  shook  with  suppressed  laughter.  Miss  Snow, 
however,  did  not  seem  in  the  least  offended,  and  her  exces- 
sive vanity  is  rendered  pardonable  by  her  great  good  nature. 
She  came  one  day,  and  brought  a  poem  in  manuscript,  from 
which  she  read  extracts  for  our  entertainment.  There  were 
words  without  ideas,  and  ideas  struggling  through  a  redun- 
dancy of  words  ;  figures,  metaphors,  and  similes  without 
order  or  arrangement.  When  she  finished,  not  a  word  was 
spoken,  though  she  evidently  expected  the  homage  of  flat- 
tery. The  sincerest  admirers  of  good  poetry  are  always 
f  most  deeply  disgusted  with  bad,  and  I  really  had  the  imper 


230  THE   HUSBAND   IN"   UTAH. 

tinence,  on  a  subsequent  occasion,  to  say  that  young  damsels 
could  be  much  better  employed  in  household  labors  than  in 
stringing  together  unmeaning  rhyme.  The  poetess  looked 
at  her  white  and  dimpled  hand,  which  she  boastingly 
asserted  had  never  been  soiled  by  dish-water. 

Her  father  is  a  man  of  considerable  property,  and  the 
brother  of  Judge  Snow,  mentioned  in  a  former  part  of  this 
work.  He  evidently  desires  to  make  a  fine  lady  of  his 
daughter,  and  for  that  end  has  had  her  taught  certain 
accomplishments,  which  here  seem  rather  out'  of  place. 
Mrs.  Farrow  grows  facetious  over  the  fact  of  her  continual 
visiting  here,  and  the  repeated  invitations  I  receive  to  dine 
at  her  father's  house.  This  gentleman,  who  bears  the  title 
of  elder,  called  on  me  one  day  with  his  daughter.  He  was 
a  little  bustling  man,  with  an  affected  consequential  air. 
We  conversed  for  some  time  on  general  topics,  when  sud- 
denly, and  without  any  preamble  or  apparent  confusion,  he 
introduced  the  subject  of  his  business  by  making  some  inqui- 
ries regarding  mine. 

"  You  design  to  stay  some  time  in  our  country  ?"  he  said, 
inquiringly. 

"  That  depends  on  circumstances." 

"  How  would  you  like  to  make  it  your  permanent  resi- 
dence r 

I  wished  to  be  guarded,  and  returned  an  equivocal  answer 

"It  is  a  very  fine  country  ;  great  chances  for  men  of 
enterprise  and  talent.  Large  families  can  be  supported 
with  ease." 


ANGLING  FOR   A   HUSBAND.  231 

41  But  I  have  no  family." 

"  I  suppose  not,  just  now,  but  will  have  probably." 

"  Rather  doubtful" 

"  I  should  think  otherwise.  You  must  be  in  pursuit  of  a 
wife,  what  else  could  have  brought  you  here  ?" 

The  idea  of  going  to  Salt  Lake  city  for  a  wife  was  deci- 
dedly new,  and  excited  a  broad  smile.  The  young  lady 
tossed  her  head,  tried  to  blush,  and  simpered,  "  Oh,  papa  1" 

"  Yes,"  he  continued.  "  I've  hit  the  nail  on  the  head—- 
that must  be  it  Very  well,  it's  all  right.  There  must  be 
marrying  and  giving  in  marriage  till  the  day  when  we 
become  like  the  angels." 

"  I  am  afraid  there  is  no  such  good  luck  in  store  for  me." 

"  Afraid  1  why  man,  how  silly  you  be.  The  finest  belles 
in  Utah  would  consider  themselves  honored  by  your  prefer- 
ence. Just  try." 

I  shook  my  head, 

"  I  know  it ;  ask  my  daughter  there,  she  has  a  strong 
predilection  for  Gentiles." 

Again  came  the  shrug  and  the  simper,  "  Oh,  papa  !" 

"I  declare  she  has,"  he  continued  with  a  loud  laugh, 
"  she  told  me  so  herself." 

Here  the  young  lady  really  blushed  in  earnest,  and  I  was 
half  tempted  to  kick  the  old  fellow  out  of  the  room. 

"  But  you  don't  permit  your  girls  to  marry  among  the 
Gentiles,  do  you  ?" 

He  twisted  his  mouth  and  features  into  the  most  ludicrous 
and  extraordinary  grimace  imaginable,  as  much  as  to  say 


232  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

what  a  great  spoony  you  must  be  i9  take  professions  for 
more  than  they  intend. 

"  It  is  contrary  to  the  rules  of  our  church,"  he  said,  pre- 
sently, "  but  girls  will  be  headstrong,  and  parents  easy, 
sometimes  ;  indeed  I  know  of  fathers,  and  mothers,  too,  as 
to  that  matter,  who  would  rejoice  to  give  their  daughters  to 
Gentile  husbands,  provided,  in  all  cases,  that  their  personal 
connivance  to  the  affair  could  be  kept  concealed." 

"  I  thought  that  according  to  your  creed  a  Mormon  hus- 
band was  essential  to  the  salvation  of  the  wife." 

"  Yes,  according  to  our  creed,  and  there  are  many  things 
in  the  creeds  of  certain  sectaries,  which  in  their  hearts  they 
know  to  be  false.  At  any  rate,  speaking  for  myself,  I  would 
risk  that  for  my  daughter,  if  she  could  thereby  obtain  an 
advantageous  settlement  for  life."  . 

He  spoke  seriously,  and  with  great  deliberation. 

"  Are  there  no  such  chances  for  a  young  and  beautiful 
woman,  among  the  people  of  your  church  ?"  I  inquired, 
doubtingly. 

He  scanned  my  countenance  with  an  eager  yet  curious 
expression,  and  said  : 

"  What  I  want  for  my  daughter,  and  what  some  other 
parents  wish  for  their  daughters,  is  a  home,  and  a  true, 
faithful,  loving  heart,  solely  and  unquestionably  hers — that 
will  bear  with  her  weaknesses,  and  strengthen  her  virtues. 
Ask  your  own  knowledge  of  us,  if  such  prospects  as  these 
open  before  a  woman  in  matrimony,  where  custom,  public 
opinion,  and  even  religion,  sanctions  the  espousal  by  the 


A   DIRECT   PKOPOSAL.  233 

husband  of  so  many  wives.  Polygamy  never  looked  hateful 
to  me  till  my  daughter  had  nearly  become  its  victim." 

"Your  daughter!" 

"  Yes,  sir,  my  daughter.  One  of  our  neighbors,  a  great 
burly  Briton,  with  seven  wives,  is  a  candidate  for  Eliza's 
hand,  and  Brother  Brigham  recommends  the  match.  But 
she  hates  and  despises  him,  and  we  cannot  find  it  in  our 
hearts  to  force  her  inclinations.  And  yet,  according  to  our 
creed,  disobedience  to  the  prophet  is  a  mortal  sin." 

All  this  was  said  with  a  smiling  cpuutenance  and  affected 
good  nature,  yet  it  was  easy  to  see  hoV  deeply  the  parent's 
heart  was  touched. 

"  Is  your  daughter's  suitor  a  man  of  property  and  intelli- 
gence ?"  I  inquired. 

"  He  is  not,"  replied  the  unhappy  father.  "  Last  winter 
his  family  were  in  a  state  actually  bordering  on  starvation. 
He  will  not  work  at  his  trade,  which  he  pretends  is  degrad- 
ing, and  his  only  ostensible  means  of  livelihood  is  that  of  a 
c@mic  actor  at  the  theatre.  I  could  not  describe  the  huts 
in  which  his  wives  are  kept,  and  though  on  the  boards  he  is 
all  fun,  frolic,  mirth  and  glee,  his  private  life  is  whispered  to 
be  quite  another  thing.  And  now,  to  come  to  the  point, 
could  not  you  prevent  the  marriage  between  him  and  my 
daughter  ever  taking  place." 

I  was  surprised  beyond  measure,  and  the  young  lady, 
arose  and  left  the  room. 

"  I  prevent  the  marriage  1  how,  pray  ?" 


231  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

"By  marrying  her  yourself.  I  speak  plain,  necessity 
impels  it." 

"  Sir,  I  could  not  do  that,"  I  replied.  "  I  respect  the 
lady,  but  never  thought  of  her  as  a  wife;  you  may  com- 
mand my  services  in  any  way  that  will  not  compromise  my 
personal  freedom  and  honor." 

I  really  sympathized  with  the  father,  who  seemed  pained 
and  disappointed. 

"  I  fear  then,  that  my  poor  girl  must  go  to  the  altar  of 
sacrifice,"  he  said,  "  Persecution  will  be  brought  to  bear 
upon  us,  and  ultimately  we  shall  be  forced  to  yield." 

"  Has  she  no  relations  to  whom  you  could  send  her  ?" 

"  She  has  relatives  to  be  sure,  but  how  could  she  ever 
reach  them  ?  I  could  not  think  of  exposing  her  to  the  diffi- 
culties and  dangers  of  such  a  journey." 

"  You  are  an  elder  in  this  Church,"  I  said,  "  why  not 
have  its  iniquitous  practices  and  laws  abolished  ?" 

"  They  are  too  deeply  interwoven  in  our  social  system," 
he  replied  ;  "  too  many  are  interested  in  perpetuating  thega ; 
polygamy,  like  slavery,  may  be  regarded  as  an  evil  .by  the 
very  ones  who  practise  it.  Then,  too,  the  real  power  of 
the  church,  all  exists  in  its  acknowledged  head.  The  elder 
comparatively  is  little  more  than  the  meanest  member." 

"  But,  sir,  you  must  have  sensible  and  honest  men  among 
you,  who  once  convinced  that  polygamy  is  an  evil,  would 
unite  their  energies  to  extirpate  it.  Whether  or  not  they 
regarded  it  objectionable  as  husbands,  if  appealed  to  as 
fathers,  their  hearts  would  respond.'" 


EXCHANGE   OF   GIFTS.  235 

He  shook  his  head  doubtingly. 

"  You  have  sensible  and  honest  men  in  the  South,  who 
question  the  policy,  justice,  and  humanity  of  the  peculiar 
institution  which  flourishes  there,  yet  who  are  utterly  impo- 
tent to  remove  it." 

After  some  more  desultory  conversation,  the  elder  took 
his  leave,  his  daughter  having  previously  gone,  when  curio- 
sity led  me  to  make  some  inquiries  of  Mrs.  Farrow. 

She  informed  me  that  Elder  Snow  had  six  wives,  who 
resided  together  in  one  large  house — that  Eliza  was  the 
daughter  of  his  first  wife,  a  woman  of  some  intelligence  who 
evidently  abhorred  polygamy,  and  whose  matronly  instruc- 
tions had  not  fallen  on  barren  ground.  She  laughed  heartily 
at  the  elder's  absurd  proposal,  and  s^d  she  had  been  expect- 
ing it,  though  she  gave  little  credit  to  his  expressions  of 
paternal  feelings,  and  declared  that  other  and  sinister 
motives  were  at  work  in  his  mind. 

"  Mormon  fathers,"  she  continued,  "  make  no  scruple  of 
offering  the  hands  of  their  daughters  to  marriageable  men, 
and  when  the  girls  are  beautiful  or  wealthy,  they  always 
require  a  consideration.  They  are  not  yet  so  lost  to  all  feel- 
ings of  shame  or  decency  as  to  call  it  by  its  proper  name,  a 
lorn  fide  sale." 

"  What,  then,  do  they  call  it  ?" 

"  Oh,  an  exchange  of  gifts, — or  the  son  makes  a  present 
to  his  new  father,  or  lends  some  valuable  article  or  animal 
to  him,  with  the  understanding  that  it  shall  not  be  reclaim- 
ed.'1 


236 


THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 


"  Do  you  think  such  things  right  or  honorable  ?" 

"  Noj"  she  replied  with  emphasis. 

"  Yet  they  are  distinctive  features  of  your  Church." 

"  I  know  that  very  well,  I  know  that  doctrine  was  prop- 
agated as  a  Revelation  from  Heaven,  by  the  immaculate 
Joseph,  yet  I  can  tell  how,  in  my  opinion,  the  prophet  was 
deceived." 

"  I  should  like  to  hear." 

"  Why,  Satan  came  to  him  iii  the  form  of  an  angel,  and 
not  being  sufficiently  fortified  by  faith  and  prayer,  he  was 
not  able  to  detect  the  cheat,  but  received  the  devil's  in- 
structions regarding  polygamy,  and  kindred  customs,  as  the 
veritable  truth." 

"  Well,  that  is  saddling  more  on  the  Prince  of  Darkness 
than  I  should  think  him  guilty  of.  There  is  no  worse  devil 
than  a  wicked  man." 

Mrs.  Farrow,  however,  said  that  she  was  careful  not  to 
talk  loud,  as  she  should  hardly  feel  safe  if  the  elders  knew 
of  her  heresy. 

"  Yet  you  do  not  suppose  that  they  would  injure  you  ?" 

"  No,  but  they  would  probably  expel  me  from  the  church 
with  a  curse,  and  then  I  should  be  overtaken  by  all  sorts  of 
calamities." 

"  None  the  more  for  that  you  wouldn't,"  I  said. 

"  Oh,  but  I  should,"  she  replied,  "  I  well  know  that. 
One  man  whom  they  cursed  and  expelled  from  the  church, 
was  struck  by  lightning  the  very  next  day.  Another  was 
bit  by  a  serpent,  swelled  and  died  in  the  greatest  agony K 


237 

and  Sally  Harman,  whom  I  knew  much  better  than  I  do 
you,  became  insane,  and  wandered  among  the  mountains 
where  she  was  eaten  by  a  wolf." 

"  But,  Mrs.  Farrow,"  I  said,  "  all  this  is  superstition.  Such 
accidents  always  occur  in  the  regular  course  of  nature. 
The  lightning  strikes  indiscriminately,  the  serpent  bites  an 
intruder,  and  insanity  comes  as  the  result  of  disease  or  the 
violation  of  a  physical  law,  but  in  no  case  can  it  be  super- 
induced as  the  result  of  such  agencies  as  you  suppose." 

The  worthy  dame,  however,  persisted  that  one  fact  was 
better  than  a  thousand  theories,  that  she  had  experienced 
in  her  own  person  the  potent  influences  of  the  blessing  of 
the  church,  and  that  nothing  should  induce  her  to  try  the 
experiment  of  daring  its  curse.  Of  course  I  was  silenced, 
though  not  conquered. 

Notwithstanding  her  superstitious  motives,  Mrs.  Farrow 
was  a  woman  of  decided  intelligence,  shrewd,  ingenious, 
and  keen  as  a  brier  in  driving  a  bargain,  when  opposed  to  a 
wealthy  or  speculating  character,  though  no  one  would 
more  readily  melt  at  a  tale  of  woe,  or  respond  with  more 
heartiness  to  calls  of  charity.  She  kept  a  small  shop  or 
variety  store,  which  was  tended  by  one  of  her  daughters, 
and  was  altogether  a  profitable  concern.  The  sale  of  ready 
made  clothing  was  not,  perhaps,  the  least  thriving  branch  of 
her  trade,  and  the  assistance  it  enabled  her  to  give  poor 
women,  was  one  of  its  most  satisfactory  results.  She 
bought  grain,  flour,  pork,  beef,  anything  eatable,  which  she 
retailed  in  small  quantities,  to  such  housekeepers  as  worked 


238  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

for  her,  or  if  they  preferred  money,  it  was  readily  given.  II 
was  not  in  her  nature  to  grind  the  poor  for  the  increase  of 
riches,  and  many  a  blessing  have  I  heard  invoked  on  her 
head,  by  the  miserable  recipients  of  her  kindness  and 
charity. 

One  day,  while  sitting  in  her  snug  little  parlor,  which 
was  a  model  of  neatness  and  comfort,  I  caught  the  glimpse 
of  a  woman  just  entering  the  store.  It  was  but  a  glimpse, 
yet  something  in  her  carriage  and  appearance  forcibly  re- 
minded me  of  Miss  Scott.  The  door  between  the  two 
apartments  being  partly  open,  I  could  hear  the  plaintive 
tones  of  a  melodious  voice,  without  being  able  to  distinguish 
the  words.  When  she  retired,  I  observed  that  she  carried 
with  her  a  small  bundle,  probably  of  sewing,  and  a  basket 
that  contained  something  covered  by  a  paper.  Mrs.  Farrow 
soon  came  into  the  parlor,  and  her  eyes  were  red,  as  if  with 
recent  tears.  I  was  reading  a  novel,  which  observing,  she 
remarked,  with  a  sad  smile,  "  How  many  scenes  in  real  life 
exceed  in  misery  and  despair  the  most  high-wrought  crea- 
tions of  fancy." 

"  And  yet,"  I  answered,  "  misery  of  that  description  is 
mostly  self-made." 

"  So  much  the  worse  for  the  sufferer;  for  then  to  his  or 
her  .other  tortures  are  added  those  of  remorse.  A  young 
woman  just  left  me,  whose  whole  appearance  was  so  indica- 
tive of  sorrow  and  destitution,  that  without  asking  her  name 
or  requiring  a  reference,  as  usual,  I  gave  her  the  work  she 
desired,  and  added  thereto  a  small  quantity  of  provisions. 


CLEARING   UP   MY   CHARACTER.  239 

Poor  thing !  her  expressions  of  gratitude  really  overcame 
me." 

"  Then  you  did  not  know  her  ?" 

"I  did  not." 

"  I  wish  you  had." 

"Why?" 

"  Because  I  half  suspect  that  she  is  a  girl  in  whom  I  am 
deeply  interested." 

A  blank  look  of  amazement  settled  on  the  countenance  of 
the  worthy  daine. 

"  Oh,  I  hope  not,  indeed,  I  really  hope  not,"  she  re- 
plied. 

11  Can  you  tell  me  where  she  lives  ?" 

"  I  cannot,"  she  answered,  gravely.  "  But  why  should 
you  wish  to  know  1" 

I  had  sunk  immeasurably  in  her  opinion,  and  deemed  it 
necessary  to  exculpate  myself  from  the  rumor  the  unworthy 
suspicion  aroused  in  her  mind.  So,  without  further  parley, 
I  related  all  that  I  knew  about  Miss  Scott,  with  her  father's 
deep  anxiety,  and  the  interest  which,  for  his  sake,  I  had 
taken  in  her  fate. 

Mrs.  Farrow  listened  attentively,  and  when  I  had  finished, 
expressed  her  conviction  that  Miss  Scott  and  the  person* 
with  whom  she  so  deeply  sympathized  were  identical.  She 
would  make  further  inquiries,  she  said,  and  if  the  supposi- 
tion proved  correct,  we  would  take  measures  for  restoring 
her  to  her  father. 

I  was  not  kept  long  in  suspense.     The  next  day  she 


24:0  THE  HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

returned  with  the  work,  and  Mrs.  Farrow  at  once  intro- 
duced the  subject,  by  inquiring  if  her  name  was  Scott. 

She  replied,  with  some  little  hesitation,  that  it  was. 

"  And  you  came  hither  in  an  emigrant  train  for  Califor- 
nia ?"  continued  the  matron. 

Her  auditor  assented. 

"And  would  you  be  willing  to  return  to  your  father 
should  an  opportunity  present  ?" 

"  But  would  it  be  possible  for  my  father  to  forgive  and 
receive  me  ?"  she  said,  bursting  into  a  passion  of  tears. 

Mrs.  Farrow  assured  her  that  there  could  be  no  doubt 
of  it,  and  concluded  by  recommending  her  departure  in  the 
first  emigrant  train,  declaring  that  she  would  supply  the 
funds  for  all  necessary  expenses.  Miss  Scott  expressed  her 
readiness  to  go,  and  gave  a  general  outline  history  of  her 
trials  in  Mormondom. 

She  had  never  ceased  to  regret  the  first  false  step  in  her 
life  ;  her  carelessness  and  neglect  of  parental  teaching  and 
advice.  Disobedience,  she  said,  led  her  to  form  an  acquaint- 
ance, and  ultimately  a  more  intimate  connection  with  the 
young  lieutenant.  Disobedience  led  her  to  fly  with  him 
from  her  best  and  truest  friend,  and  then,  as  the  meed  of 
her  folly,  she  had  met  shame,  desertion,  and  disgrace. 
Before  she  had  lived  a  month  with  Fitzgerald,  her  seducer, 
he  became  weary  of  her,  left  her  for  days,  and  even  weeks, 
without  fuel  or  food,  at  which  times  she  would  be  obliged  to 
go  out  and  beg  a  scanty  supply  from  her  neighbors.  These 
generally  were  most  ungracious,  and  never  failed  to  express 


their  abhorrence  of  her  degraded  condition  ;  for,  strange  as 
it  may  appear,  the  sixth  wife  of  a,  Mormon  holds  in  supreme 
contempt  the  unfortunate  female  who  may  become  a  mother 
without  the  sacred  name  of  wife,  or  one  whose  connection 
with  a  lover  has  not  been  sanctioned  by  the  marriage  tie. 

She  could  have  borne  all  this,  she  said,  as  a  merited 
punishment,  but  the  Mormon  libertines  taking  advantage  of 
her  unprotected  condition,  began  to  insult  her  with  disgust- 
ing proposals,  of  which  even  Fitzgerald  urged  her  accept- 
ance. This  aroused  her  temper.  She  reproached  him  with 
her  betrayal  and  ruin  ;  he  retorted.  Words  changed  to 
blows.  He  struck  her  with  the  flat  side  of  his  sword,  and 
left  the  house.  She  never  saw  him  afterwards. 

Dependent  on  her  own  exertions,  without  relatives  or 
friends,  she  drank  deeply  the  cup  of  bitterness  and  humilia- 
tion Her  first  efforts  were  at  nursing,  but  she  soon  became 
disgusted.  There  was  plenty  of  employment,  but  little  pay. 
Then  she  was  cheated  by  one,  swindled  by  another,  while  a 
third  would  accuse  her  of  laziness,  and  refuse  her  remunera- 
tion on  the  plea  that  she  earned  nothing.  What  was  almost 
equally  as  bad,  many  families  were  so  crowded  in  small  incon- 
venient rooms,  that  the  recovery  of  the  patient  was  almost 
impossible,  when  the  blame,  instead  of  resting  where  it 
ought,  would  be  thrown  on  the  nurse.  In  one  family  there 
were  three  wives,  eight  children,  and  one  old  grandmother, 
witji  the  husband  and  grandfather,  besides  a  table,  chairs, 
one  bed,  two  benches,  a  cupboard;  and  cook-stove,  all  in  one 
small  apartment,  eighteen  by  sixteen.  The  bed  contained 

11 


242  THE    HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

the  sick  woman,  whose  recovery,  for  a  long  time,  wag 
doubtful,  though  the  only  wonder  was,  how,  amid  so  much 
noise  and  heat,  pestiferous  vapor,  and  suffocating  smells,  she 
could  have  ever  recovered  at  all. 

But  Miss  Scott  had  other  difficulties.  The  husbands  in 
whose  families  she  found  employment,  almost  invariably 
solicited  her  to  become  a  member  of  their  seraglios,  and 
sometimes  she  found  it  extremely  difficult  to  escape  their 
importunities.  For  this  she  had  been  persecuted  in  various 
ways,  and  it  was  extremely  difficult  for  her  to  supply  herself 
with  bread. 

The  next  day  I  sought  the  commander  of  an  emigrant 
train,  about  to  depart  for  California,  and  gained  permission 

for  her  to  accompany  it,  Frederick  B also  departed 

with,  them, 


ELIZA   ENOW   MARRIES   BROTHER   BRIGHAM.        243 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

CONVERSATIONS  WITH  AN  ELDER  ON  POLYGAMY,  AND  THE  FUTURE 
OF  THE  MORMONS THEIR  NATIONAL  AND  SOCIAL  POLICY,  ETC. 

FT!  HOUGH  a  rigid  Mormon,  Mrs.  Farrow  was  too  much 
JL  of  a  woman  not  to  delight  in  speaking  her  mind,  and 
her  natural  ideas  of  right  and  wrong  were  much  too  clear 
and  perspicuous  to  be  readily  confused  by  the  chaos  of  Mor- 
mon opinions  and  practices.  Then,  too,  as  not  a  particle 
of  deceit  harbored  in  her  heart,  she  could  not  bear  to  see  it 
in  others. 

"  It's  just  as  I  thought,"  she  said,  one  day  at  breakfast, 
"  Eliza  Snow  has  become  the  wife  of  Brother  Brigham." 

"  I  thought  the  governor  favored  her  marriage  with 
another  man." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  he  did  at  first,  but  she  was  averse  to 
marrying  him,  and  declared  her  determination  to  take  a 
Gentile  husband." 

"  And  to  prevent  this  he  concluded  to  marry  her  him- 
self?" 

"  I  suppose  so." 


24:4:  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

"  Rather  unprofitable  business,"  I  said,  and  taking  up  my 
hat,  went  out  for  a  walk.  Sauntering  along  the  streets,  I 
came  to  a  beautiful  garden,  the  property  of  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Sayres.  His  wife  is  a  rigid  Mormon,  though  he 
denounces  the  whole  system  as  an  abomination.  He  came 
here  to  gratify  her  absurd  notions,  and,  for  the  sake  of 
family  peace,  tolerates  her  ridiculous  absurdities.  Garden- 
ing is  his  ruling  passion.  He  is  an  extravagant  lover  of 
flowers,  and  many  a  floral  curiosity  has  he  found  in  this 
region.  He  contemplates  making  a  collection  of  all  the 
plants  native  to  the  Basin,  which  will  be  a  valuable  addition 
to  botany.  A  large  plot  of  ground  is  thus  most  tastefully 
arranged,  and  clumps  of  beautiful  and  ornamental  shade 
trees,  stationed  at  regular  intervals,  with  garden-chairs  and 
benches  for  the  accommodation  of  visitors.  Several  ladies, 
some  bright  little  girls,  and  two  or  three  of  the  elders,  were 
promenading  the  walks.  One  of  them  came  up,  and  cour- 
teously addressed  me.  He  seemed  an  agreeable  man,  and 
we  soon  entered  into  conversation.  He  was  decidedly  intel- 
ligent, and  appeared  to  anticipate  all  the  objections  that 
could  be  raised  against  the  peculiarities  of  their  social  sys- 
tem. He  seemed  candid,  sincere,  and  tolerant,  though 
whether  with  reality  or  not  I  cannot  pretend  to  say. 

In  reply  to  some  remarks  of  his,  I  said  that  it  seemed  to 
me  that  the  elders  and  leaders  of  the  church  were  permitted 
to  exercise  a  permanent  influence  upon  the  character  of  the 
people,  through  their  legislative  and  social  power  ;  and  that 
such  influence  could  scarcely  fail  to  be  undemocratic,  unjust, 


CONVERSATION   WITH  .A   MORMON  ELDER.          245 

and  unsuitable  to  the  jurisdiction  and  general  principles  of 
the  federal  government,  though  not  unpardonable,  and  pro- 
bably not  incapable  of  salutary  change. 

"  It  must  be  evident  to  the  most  casual  observer,  that  the 
exercise  of  power  by  one  part  of  the  people  over  the  remain- 
der will  affect  unfavorably  the  character  of  the  whole,"  I 
continued,  "  and  the  more  readily  the  poorer  and  weaker 
class  submit  to  the  tyranny  of  the  richer  and  mightier,  the 
greater  will  be  the  injury  to  their  true  interests,  and  the 
deeper  their  moral  and  political  degradation.* 

He  replied,  with  perfect  good  humor,  by  referring  to  dif- 
ferences in  opinions,  feelings,  and  sentiments,  and  expressed 
his  firm  belief  that  polygamy  had  been,  and  would  be,  a 
great  blessing  to  both  male  and  female,  individually  and 
socially,  though,  if  I  understood  him  rightly,  the  advantages 
were  prospective  rather  than  otherwise,  after  all.  He  said 
that  polygamy  would  be  much  more  salutary  and  effective 
than  law,  public  opinion,  and  religion,  or  all  combined,  to 
eradicate  certain  evils,  which  always  had,  and  always  would 
flourish  under  a  system  of  monogamy,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  fearful  diseases  and  such  crimes  as  infanticide,  which 
almost  invariably  attend  illicit  connections,  though  rarely 
if  ever  occurring  under  a  system  of  marriage  so  extensive 
and  complicated  as  that  of  the  Mormons. 

"Your  Eastern  cities,"  he  said,  "point  the  finger  of 
scorn  at  us  in  their  true  pharisaic  spirit,  yet  how  well  might 
we  retort  by  referring  to  the  courtesans  that  throng  their 
streets,  to  the  innocent  infants,  mutilated,  drowned,  or  left 


246  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

to  the  tender  mercies  of  strangers,  that  swell  their  criminal 
reports,  of  deaths  occasioned  by  nameless  hideous  ways  ;  all 
of  which  prove  that  in  their  midst  is  a  vice  stalking  at 
noonday  that  their  most  stringent  laws  have  no  power  to 
remove  or  obliterate.  And  of  all  these  crimes  we  are  clear, 
thank  God  l»(i.) 

"  You  mean  that  in  name  these  crimes  do  not  exist  among 
you  ;  in  fact,  they  certainly  do,"  I  replied. 

"As  how?  There  is  no  such  thing  as  concubinage, 
because  all  are  married  ;  there  can  be  no  illegitimate  chil- 
dren, because  all  are  born  in  wedlock  ;  mothers  are  never 
induced  by  shame  or  the  sternness  of  public  opinion,  to 
sacrifice  their  offspring  ;  how  then  can  you  say  that  the 
crimes  which  I  have  instanced  as  part  of  your  system  belong 
to  ours  r(j.) 

Our  conversation  was  long,  and  his  defense  of  polygamy 
sophistical  and  eloquent.  Gradually  I  led  him  on  to  speak 
of  the  future  of  his  people — of  their  hopes  and  aspirations. 

Yet  few  Mormons  are  idealists.  With  the  single  excep- 
tion of  the  Jews,  no  sectaries  are  more  truly  practical. 
Their  sermons  and  conversations  relate  particularly  to  pros- 
perity in  this  world.  Only  a  part  of  the  females,  the 
stupidly  ignorant,  and  the  half-insane,  are  visionaries.  The 
remainder  are  much  more  ambitious  of  honor  and  wealth  in 
this  world,  than  desirous  of  the  treasure  that  neither  moth 
nor  rust  can  'corrupt.  The  Mormon  leaders,  as  a  general 
thing,  are  cautious  and  discreet  in  the  expression  of  their 
views  or  plans  for  the  future.  It  is  against  their  purpose 


PKOSPPCCTS   OF   MORMONISM.  247 

to  excite  suspicion,  or  arouse  the  jealousy  of  a  government 
which  they  secretly  hate.  Only  on  extraordinary  occasions 
they  wax  eloquent,  and  you  can  gather  from  cautiously- 
worded  phrases,  a  sufficient  insight  into  the  boldness  and 
originality  of  their  schemes. 

"  Mormonism,"  said  the  elder,  "has  escaped  the  serpents 
that  would  have  destroyed  it  in  its  cradle — the  Protestant 
and  the  Catholic  church.  Great  events  which  it  will  take 
centuries  to  ripen,  are  in  embryo.  The  beginning  of  the  end 
is  at  hand.  The  miserable  intrigues  and  subterfuges  that 
deny  to  us  the  right  of  self-government,  cannot  always  be 
tamely  endured.  We  have  yearly  accessions  of  wealth  and 
strength,  and  shall  soon  be  in  a  position  to  command  respect 
before  the  nations  of  the  world." 

"Do  the  Mormons,  then,  desire  to  establish  an  indepen- 
dent nation  ?"  I  inquired,  coming  at  once  to  the  point. 

"  Such  may  be  their  destiny  in  the  nature  of  things. 
We  have  all  the  elements  of  a  distinct  nationality.  Our 
country  is  peculiarly  fitted  for  self-reliance  and  defense. 
The  Great  Basin,  with  its  own  system  of  lakes  and  rivers,  its 
fertile  soil,  mild  climate,  and  mineral  productions  ;  above  all 
its  central  position  on  the  great  line  of  travel  from  east  to 
west,  from  north  to  south,  could  easily  support  millions  of 
people,  whose  mountain  passes  would  be  as  capable  of  stern 
defence  as  Thermopylae,  and  whose  warriors  in  the  cause 
of  freedom  and  religion  might  defy  the  world.? 

"  But  will  your  people  have  the  temerity  tolrebel  against 
the  Federal  Government  ?" 


248  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

"  Nothing  can  be  further  from  their  thoughts  than  rebel 
lion  in  the  present  state  of  things,  or  while  the  Federal 
Government  continues  the  liberal  and  enlightened  policy 
which  mostly  distinguishes  it;  but  secret  agencies  are  at  work, 
the  seeds  of  revolution  have  been  planted.  In  less  than  a 
century,  two  distinct  and  separate  confederacies  will  arise, 
phrenix-like,  from  the  ruins  of  your  present  government. 
Then  it  will  remain  for  us,  on  the  western  border,  to  assert 
our  rights,  our  dignity,  and  our  independence,  with  a  pros- 
pect of  success." 

"  If  you  wait  till  then,  it  will  be  a  long,  a  very  long  time," 
I  said. 

"But  what  matters  that?"  he  continued.  "We  can 
afford  to  wait  for  great  events,  or  the  acquisition  of  some 
abounding  good  ;  and  compared  to  eternity,  or  the  long 
lapse  of  future  ages,  how  a  century  dwindles  into  insignifi- 
cance I  Yes,"  he  continued,  clasping  his  hands  with  fervor, 
"  we  can  afford  to  wait  for  that  which  will  surely  come." 

"  But  suppose  it  ccmes  not  ?" 

"  That  were  impossible  from  the  very  nature  of  things. 
The  clouds  have  already  gathered  on  the  horizon,  there  is 
the  deep  mutter  of  the  earthquake  which  precedes  the  shock, 
the  hollow  moan  of  the  volcano  that  indicates  an  explosion. 
Look  at  your  Congress,  wasting  their  time  in  silly  intrigues 
and  worthless  cabals,  while  the  real  business  of  the  adminis- 
tration, and  the  true  interests  of  the  people  are  neglected. 
And  does  not  every  year  witness  a  further  dereliction  from 
duty,  a  more  wasteful  expenditure  of  the  public  money,  a 


MANIFEST  DESTINY.  24:9 

more  shameful  and  shameless  disposition  to  discord,  and  the 
subjugation  of  public  business  to  private  animosity.  As  the 
states  expand  and  the  population  increases,  the  nature  of 
your  government  requires  the  increase  of  the  representa- 
tives in  exact  ratio.  This  accession  of  numbers  will  aug- 
ment rather  than  diminish  the  difficulty.  It  is  idle  to  sup- 
pose that  a  country  so  vast,  with  such  separate  interests, 
and  clashing  institutions,  can  be  held  together  by  the  bands 
of  a  government  so  complicated  in  its  machinery,  and  so 
defective  in  all  that  constitutes  the  true  muscle  of  adminis- 
trative power.  Your  laws  are  much  better  adapted  to 
secure  the  happiness  of  a  small  state  than  consolidate  the 
provinces  of  a  Continent  in  one  huge  Empire." 

"  And  do  you  believe  all  this  ?" 

"  Most  certainly  I  do,  and  your  people  believe  it,  too> 
however  loth  to  confess  the  fact.  Very  few  have  faith  in 
the  perpetuity  of  your  institutions.  Some  openly  prophesy 
the  rupture  ;  others  fear,  yet  deprecate  the  idea,  but  it  has 
found  a  place  in  the  minds  of  all." 

"  That  is  certainly  too  much  the  case." 

"  Manifest  destiny  has  a  meaning  with  us,"  he  continued 
"  The  Mormon  church  has  been  denounced  as  a  humbug, 
and  compared  with  Millerism,  and  other  sects  of  ephemeral 
existence,  but  such  is  not  the  case.  It  is  n<*t  a  sect,  but  a 
faith,  and  the  only  faith  at  present  in  the  world,  that  has  a 
future  before  it." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,"  I  said. 

"  I  mean,"  he   resmed,  "  that  as  past  religious  history 
11* 


250  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

belongs  to  the  East,  the  future  depends  on  the  West 
Christianity  has  had  its  day.  It  arose  in  Asia,  passed  stead- 
ily over  Europe,  and  gained  the  Continent  of  America, 
reflecting  in  its  passage  some  scattering  rays  over  the 
northern  parts  of  Africa.  But  the  Catholic  church  can 
never  be  more  powerful  than  it  is.  Protestantism  has 
reached  its  culminating  point.  Mohammedanism  is  without 
either  prestige  or  power,  and  the  future  is  ours." 

I  smiled  at  his  enthusiasm. 

"  You  think  me  an  enthusiast ;  very  well,"  he  went  on. 
"  But  great  effects  spring  from  little  causes.  We  know  that 
the  Genoese  navigator  never  dreamed  of  discovering  a  new 
world  when  he  set  sail  for  Cipango  and  the  distant  regions 
of  India.  When  the  Apostle  of  Mecca  explained  his  first 
Revelation  to  a  jeering,  hooting  crowd,  what  stretch  of 
imagination  would  have  reached  the  vast  empires  to  be  sub- 
jugated in  his  namel  In  the  earliest  days  of  Christianity, 
who  would  have  thought  it  possible  that  the  instrument  of 
torture  to  a  malefactor  would  become  the  symbol  of  rank 
and  honors — that  warriors  would  carry  it  on  their  standards, 
and  kings  on  their  bosoms.  Yet  Christianity  progressed 
with  slower  steps  than  Mormonism  has  done  ;  at  the  end  of 
three  years  Mohammed  had  made  one  convert,  and  that 
one  his  wife  ;  Joseph  Smith  had  as  many  thousand  follow- 
ers in  that  length  of  time.  Has  «the  world  ever  witnessed 
a  parallel  to  our  success  ?" 

"  Seldom,  I  believe." 

"  Yet  our  mission  is  only  begun,  our  destiny,  instead  of 


CONSCIOUS   SECURITY.  251 

being  accomplished  is  only  commenced.  We  have  a  vast 
interior  and  almost  impregnable  country,  stretching  away 
to  the  north  and  the  south,  the  east  and  the  west ;  and  all 
this  country  is  to  be  filled  up  with  people  of  one  faith, 
actuated  by  the  same  designs  and  desires." 

"  But  you  forget  that  this  country  is  already  inhabited 
and  occupied." 

"  By  whom  ?"  he  inquired,  with  some  surprise. 

"  The  natives,  of  course." 

"Oh,  that  is  nothing,"  he  replied  with  contempt.  "  The 
Indians  are  doomed  to  extirpation,  or  extermination. 
That  is  their  future,  quite  as  certain  as  the  other  is  ours." 

"And  the  Mormons,  you  think,  will  remain  peaceful 
members  of  our  Confederacy  until  there  comes  a  general 
rupture  between  the  North  and  the  South." 

"  Probably,  if  our  social  and  domestic  institutions  are  not 
meddled  with — if  we  are  not  required  to  abolish  polygamy, 
or  the  union  of  church  and  state ;  but  under  other  circum- 
stances our  allegiance  would  be  doubtful." 

"Yet,  what  could  you  promise  yourselves  by  rebellion 
against  a  power  so  much  stronger  than  yours  ?" 

"  Not  so  much  stronger,  either,  when  all  is  considered. 
Our  mountains  and  deserts  would  supply  the  place  of  for* 
tresses  and  armies,  and  our  triumph  would  be  secure  because 
defeat  would  be  impossible." 

"  There  might  be  something  in  that."  I  said,  wishing  by  a 
seeming  harmony  in  views  to  lead  him  on. 

"  You  must  know,  and  your  government  must  know,  that 


252  THE   HUSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

our  dependence  on  it  is  by  a  very  precarious  tenure,  We 
have  laws  with  their  administration,  regulations  with  their 
prescribed  forms,  social  institutions  with  their  ceremonies, 
and  a  religious  faith  with  its  priesthood  and  ordinances — 
and  all  of  our  own.  We  are  necessary  to  them,  not  they 
to  us." 

11  How  will  you  make  that  appear  ?" 

"  How  will  I  make  it  appear  ?"  he  replied.  "  I  should 
think  it  would  be  obvious  to  the  most  casual  observer. 
What  would  be  the  fate  of  your  emigrants  if  they  had  to 
traverse  a  hostile  country,  or  if  refused  the  necessary  rest 
and  refreshment  after  their  long  travel,  Jtfight  not  a  descent 
on  the  Gold  Region  be  tempting  on  one  side  to  human  cupi- 
dity, and  extremely  dangerous  and  detrimental  on  the  other. 
Your  government  can  well  afford  sacrifices  to  conciliate  us, 
"We  ask  nothing  of  it  only  to  be  left  alone." 

There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  this  man  spoke  the  truth 
The  Mormons  desire  no  affiliation  with  us,  our  faith,  or 
social  institutions;  all  they  ask  is  to  be  left  alone.  It  is  the 
wish  of  their  leaders,  it  is  in  the  hearts  of  the  people.  You 
will  hear  it  verbally,  and  tacitly  expressed  in  a  thousand 
ways.  "  We  can  take  care  of  ourselves,"  is  their  constant 
and  oft-recurring  sentiment — "  We  want  nothing  of  them," 
"  Why  do  they  follow  us  ?"  These,  and  similar  expressions 
are  common  with  all. 

In  no  country  have  I  ever  heard  such  frequent  reference 
made  to  spies.  If  a  beggar  comes  to  the  door  and  solicits 
charity,  he  is  instantly  suspected  of  being  a  spy.  If  a 


A   BRIGHT   FUTURE.  253 

stranger  passes  along  the  streets  he  is  supposed  to  be  of  the 
same  character.  Such  constant  suspicion  argues  to  my 
mind  anything  but  the  consciousness  of  innocence,  or  the 
firm  rectitude  that  never  shrinks  from  observation. 

"  And  you  consider  this  country  capable  of  supporting  a 
dense  population  !"  I  said,  addressing  the  Elder. 

"  I  do  not  know  of  one  whose  capabilities  are  greater," 
he  replied,  "  or  whose  resources  for  undeveloped  wealth  are 

more  vast  and  complicated.     Extensive  territories  wait  for 

# 
men  to  come  and  possess  them.     A  soil  never  broken  by 

the  plow  only  asks  tillage  and  cultivation  to  rival  the 
famous  fertility  of  the  East.  Hidden  ores  and  metals  sleep 
uncared  for  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth.  We  might  supply 
the  world  with  salt  for  centuries,  without  exhausting  the 
abundance  of  that  indispensable  article.  Our  hills  are 
richer  in  pasture  than  the  famed  and  famous  Land  of  Goshen. 
Think  of  the  time  when  all  these  facilities  for  exhaustless 
wealth  shall  be  in  progress  of  development,  when  tele- 
graphs shall  span  our  mountains,  and  railroads  traverse  the 
valleys,  while  every  ship  wings  to  us  from  all  quarters  of 
the  globe  the  glory  and  honor  of  the  Gentiles,  and  the 
devotees  of  our  faith  pour  out  their  treasures  in  offerings 
on  its  shrines." 

,  Whether  or  not  the  Mormons  are  destined  to  occupy  the 
distinguished  position  in  the  world  to  which  they  aspire,  is 
at  present  problematical.  That  stranger  things  have  hap- 
pened, is  undeniable;  that  weaker  beginnings  have  astounded 
the  world  with  mighty  results  is  equally  certain,  and  no  one 


254  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

who  has  sufficiently  examined  their  prospects  and  character, 
will  be  surprised  if  long  before  the  vexed  question  of  slavery 
is  laid  aside,  another  should  arise  in  connection  with  them 
quite  as  intricate  and  complicated. 

It  seems  to  me  that  few  have  looked  on  them  or  their 
creed  in  the  philosophical  light  they  deserve.  The  one  is 
considered  a  humbug  ;  the  others  dupes  and  impostors. 
Yet  similar  humbugs  have  been  of  vigorous  growth  and 
long  continuance,  and  what  finds  favor  among  men  in  the 
present  age  will  probably  be  quite  as  readily  received  by 
the  next.  But  whether  these  speculations  have  a  founda- 
tion in  fact  or  in  fancy,  the  future  must  decide,  and  another 
generation  will  probably  be  able  to  judge  with  cer- 
tainty. 

Our  long  colloquy  ended,  and  I  bade  my  friend  farewell 
with  a  feeling  of  regret.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Old  Har- 
vard, and  was  closely  connected  with  some  of  the  most 
distinguished  families  in  Massachusetts.  We  parted  near 
the  Tithing  office,  and  I  never  saw  him  more.  Two  days 
after,  I  received  intimation  that  he  had  been  dispatched  on 
a  secret  and  highly  important  mission  to  a  foreign  land. 

Yet  this  man,  according  to  Mrs.  Farrow's  statement,  had 
three  wives,  one  of  them  old  enough  to  be  his  mother,  ano 
ther  middle-aged,  and  the  third  a  mere  child.  I  know  very 
well  that  such  things  appear  incredible,  but  they  are  no 
less  facts,  nor  was  he  a  solitary  example  of  misdirected 
intelligence.  Elder  Snow  had  made  the  tour  of  Europe,  and 
conversed  with  ease  and  elegance  of  the  beauties  of  art  in 


INTELLIGENT   ELDERS. 


Paris  and  Italy,  while  the  companion  of  his  travels,  Elder 
Smith,  .was  a  graduate  of  Yale,  and  possessed  an  extensive 
acquaintance  with  ancient  and  modern  languages,  and  gene- 
ral and  classical  literature. 


253  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE     MARKETS     OF     SALT    LAKE     CITY — SHOP-KEEPERS STREET- 
VENDERS    OF    MERCHANDISE MANUFACTURES    AND    MECHANIC 

ARTS. 

IN  a  city  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  thousand  stationary 
inhabitants,  with  an  almost  equal  number  of  transient 
visitors,  the  markets  cannot  be  an  insignificant  feature, 
though  not  connected  with  the  most  pleasant  associations, 
or  suggestive  of  the  most  refined  ideas. 

But  the  markets  are  capital  places  to  study  the  varieties 
of  life.  The  work-shops  and  small  stores  present  at  every 
step  subjects  for  characteristic  sketches,  and  set  forth  the 
every-day  aspect  of  the  common  people.  The  piety  of  the 
Mormon  does  not  at  all  prevent  his  being  extremely  fond  of 
a  good  bargain,  and,  ten  chances  to  one,  if  it  stands  in  the 
way  of  his  committing  a  regular,  downright  swindle,  should 
an  opportunity  occur. 

The  markets  are  well  supplied  with  the  usual  comestibles 
of  civilized  life  ;  fish,  flesh,  and  fowl  abound,  with  all  sorts 
of  vegetables,  butter,  and  cheese.  Little  tables  are  usually 


SHOP-KEEPERS.  257 

set  out  in  conspicuous  places,  with  cakes,  candies,  and  con- 
fectionaries,  around  which  gather  gay  groups  of  soldiers, 
women,  and  children,  laughing  and  chatting  with  all  possible 
familiarity.  You  are  surprised  at  the  quantities  of  foreign 
wares  conspicuously  displayed  in  the  windows.  You  had 
^carcely  expected  to  find  French  gloves  or  Wellington  boots. 
You  think,  perhaps,  that  the  display  of  silks,  costly  shawls, 
and  velvets,  must  be  rather  out  of  place.  You  begin  to 
question  in  what  manner  they  could  ever  have  come  here* 
forgetful  that  gold  possesses  a  magic  power  that  attracts 
everything  which  can  be  exchanged  for  it. 

But  there  are  many  shops  of  less  pretention,  devoted  to 
the  sale  of  second-hand  or  inferior  articles,,  with  clothes, 
hose,  and  similar  goods  of  home-made  manufacture.  You 
soon  discover  that  the  keepers  of  these  establishments  pos- 
sess a  peculiar  aptitude  for  trade.  In  dexterity  and  cun- 
ning they  seem  even  to  surpass  the  Jews.  You  are 
surrounded  in  a  moment  by  a  dozen  eager  traders,  all 
intent  on  selling  you  something,  and  each  seeming  to  vie 
with  the  others  in  setting  forth  the  value  and  utility  of  his 
wares.  You  cannot  help  feeling  amused  at  the  strange 
mixture  of  barbarous  English,  guttural  German,  and  idio- 
matic French  that  reaches  your  ears  ;  for  these  shop- 
keepers are  nearly  all  foreigners,  and  by  them  almost  every 
nation  in  Europe  is  represented.  You  are  attracted  by  a 
little  Frenchman,  whose  use  of  his  tongue  seems  most  dex- 
trous, and  enter  his  door  with  the  fixed  determination  that 

% 

you  will  not  purchase  anything,  because  just  then  there  is 


258  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

nothing  you  want.     The  Frenchman  is  all  assiduity  and 
attention. 

"  What  will  you  have,  sir  ?  Boots,  stocks  ;"  and  he  runs 
over  a  long  list  of  articles  with  a  glibness  of  tongue  per- 
fectly astonishing,  meanwhile  watching  your  eye  to  discover 
on  what  article  it  fastens.  As  yet'  you  are  unacquainted 
with  his  art,  and  look  carelessly  and  indifferently  around,  till 
a  beautifully  embroidered  buffalo-robe  meets  your  gaze.  Of 
course  you  have  no  use  for  that ;  it  is  in  the  midst  of  sum- 
mer, and  you  are  thousands  of  miles  away  from  home.  It 
would  be  preposterous  to  swell  your  baggage  with  useless 
articles,  but  you  can  ask  the  price.  The  Frenchman,  how- 
ever, anticipates  you. 

"  Monsieur  has  well  chosen,"  he  says.  "  This  is  the  most 
beautiful  article  of  the  kind  in  the  market.  Lord  George 
Gordon,  I  think  it  was,  won't  be  sure  about  the  name,  but 
at  any  rate  he  was  an  English  lord,  bought  three  of  them 
from  an  Indian  princess.  One  he  designed  as  a  present  to 
Queen  Victoria,  the  other  he  wished  to  keep  for  his  lady, 
and  the  third  I  obtained  as  a  reward  for  doing  his  lordship 
a  very  great  service." 

"  Indeed  1" 

"  Just  look,  what  soft,  long,  exquisite  fur.  I  have  been 
in  the  fur  trade  these  many  years,  and  never  yet  saw  its 
equal." 

After  much  chaffering  and  bargaining,  more  for  amuse- 
ment than  anything  else,  you  are  induced  to  name  a  price, 
though  not  a  fourth  of  the  sum  that  he  has  named  as  the 


SECOND-HAND   SHOPS.  259 

lowest  lie  can  take  The  words  have  scarcely  escaped  your 
lips,  when  he  flings  it  over  your  shoulders,  and  the  only 
course  left  for  you  is  to  count  the  gold. 

The  shops  devoted  to  the  sale  of  second-hand  goods  are 
quite  as  characteristic  and  interesting.  Surely  such  a  col- 
lection of  worn-out  dilapidated  merchandise  was  never  before 
seen.  The  people  are  as  singular  as  the  wares  offered  for 
sale.  Here  are  two  women  holding  a  solemn  council  over  a 
superannuated  frock,  which  one  would  think  entirely  worth- 
less. Close  by  is  another,  driving  a  hard  bargain  for  a 
battered  bonnet  of  Parisian  make,  which  has  served  as  an 
ornament  and  protection  to  probably  a  dozen  heads,  and  has 
finally  found  its  way  into  this  repository  of  antiquities. 
Here  is  one  of  the  few  places  in  which  you  will  find  a  crowd. 
In  general  the  streets  are  so  broad,  and  the  houses  cover  so 
small  a  portion  of  the  ground,  that  you  might  almost  fancy 
yourself  in  a  town  deserted  by  its  inhabitants.  But  here 
the  crowd,  and  throng,  and  press,  are  sufficient  to  make  it 
all  up.  You  look  around,  and  wish  yourself  away,  and  the 
wish  preludes  the  attempt  to  get  away.  In  this  you  are 
obstructed  by  some  venders  of  street  merchandise,  who  cry 
their  wares  in  your  ears  with  downright  effrontery,  or  block- 
ade the  passage,  so  that  you  must  either  stop  or  run  over 
them  ;  of  course  you  prefer  the  former.  It  is  amusing  to 
see  how  the  associations  of  polygamy  have  entered  into  all 
their  ideas  of  life.  They  do  not  seem  to  think  it  possible 
that  a  man  can  have  one  wife  without  more,  and  they  take 
it  for  granted  that  he  has  one.  If  you  deny  it,  they  will 


260  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

not  believe  you,  but  persist  in  urging  you  to  buy  combs, 
needles,  pins,  tapes,  and  similar  articles  indispensable  to  the 
female  toilet,  though  of  no  possible  use  to  a  bachelor. 

"  Buy  this  for  your  wife,  sir,  and  this,  and  this — all  alike, 
or  one  just  as  good  as  the  other  ;  can't  be  no  quarrelling 
then." 

"  But  I  have  no  wife,  never  had." 

"  Never  had  a  wife  ;  that  can't  be.  You  are  joking  ;  you 
look  like  a  sensible  man,  and  sensible  men  always  marry." 

"  Do  they,  indeed  ?" 

"  Ah,  yes." 

"  But  I  am  too  young." 

"  Too  young  !  That's  a  good  one.  Ha  !  ha  I  ha  1  But 
a  man  who  wears  a  moustache  is  always  old  enough  to  have 
a  wife." 

"  That  may  be  ;  but  age'  does  not  always  decide  these 
things." 

"  Well,  one  thing  is  certain,  if  you  have  no  wife,  you  are 
no  Mormon." 

"  No,  I  am  not." 

"  Well,  let  that  go  then,  but  you  must  buy  something/ 

You  shake  your  head. 

"  Yes,  you  must  ;  these  things  were  made  to  sell  and  to 
nse.  By  not  buying,  you  defeat  the  intention  of  the  origin- 
ator ;  you  take  bread  from  the  mouths  of  my  wives.  Buy 
them,  for  charity's  sake." 

"  Wives  " — you  catch  at  the  word,  if  only  for  the  sake  of 
relieving  yourself  of  his  importunities. 


MANUFACTURES. 

"  How  many  wives  have  you  ?"  you  inquire,  dubiously. 
To  suggest  that  he  had  only  one  would  probably  be  con- 
sidered an  insult,  as  some  of  the  Mormons  rate  their  respec- 
tability by  the  number  of  their  wives. 

He  tells  you  three,  four,  or  probably  six  or  seven,  not 
unfrequently  representing  them  more  numerous  than  they 
really  are. 

"  Do  you  not  find  it  difficult  to  get  along  peaceably  with 
so  many  women  ?" 

"  I  pay  no  attention  to  their  squabbles.  I  find  that  much 
the  best  plan.  If  they  get  to  quarrelling,  I  let  them  take  it 
out  over  the  face  and  eyes,  and  I  tell  you  what,  they  have 
pretty  warm  work  sometimes." 

You  perhaps  tell  him  that  the  whole  system  is  an  abomi- 
nation, when  he  laughs  in  your  face,  refers  you  to  great 
examples,  and  persists  in  teasing  you  to  buy.  Finally,  to 
escape  the  persecution,  you  purchase  something,  a  trinket, 
perhaps,  or  fine-tooth  comb,  but  be  sure  it  is  something  you 
do  not  -want,  and  for  which  you  have  no  use. 

Manufactures  are  rarely  carried  on  in  youthful  communi- 
ties, with  the  approved  appliances  of  machinery  driven  by 
steam  or  water  power.  Flour  is  indispensable  to  human  life 
and  comfort,  consequently  we  find  that  mills  are  among  the 
first  appendages  to  all  civilized  societies.  Next  come  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  and  woollen  cloths,  and  the  simpler 
mechanic  trades  of  shoemaking,  tailoring,  and  the  like. 
Both  wool  and  flax  of  very  good  quality  abound  in  Utah, 
and  many  of  the  more  extensive  farmers  take  infinite  pains 


262  THE   HUSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

to  improve  their  breeds  of  sheep.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
that  when  the  increase  of  population  demands  it,  and  suffi- 
cient inducements  are  offered,  extensive  manufactories 
rivalling  those  of  the  East  will  be  put  in  operation.  At  pre- 
sent, the  females  card,  spin,  and  weave  much  after  the 
fashion  of  our  grandmothers,  and  some  of  the  most  beautiful 
blankets  and  the  finest  linen  I  ever  beheld,  was  shown  to  me, 
•with  commendable  pride,  as  being  the  work  of  their  skillful 
fingers.  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  Mormons  are  all 
concentrated  in  Salt  Lake  City.  A  vast  extent  of  territory 
is  being  rapidly  filled  up  with  them.  In  the  country,  too, 
that  is,  on  the  farms,  where  the  women  have  constant  and 
regular  employment — where  one  weaves,  and  another  spins, 
the  third  attends  to  the  dairy,  and  the  fourth  is  house- 
keeper— where  there  is  plenty  of  the  comforts,  and  many  of 
the  luxuries  of  life,  polygamy  seems  to  be  attended  by  fewer 
evils,  and  to  be  the  occasion  of  much  less  discomfort  than  in 
more  confined  situations,  though  of  course  the  immorality  of 
the  practice  is  the  same. 

The  attention  of  the  Mormons  seems  to  have  been  early 
attracted  to  the  manufacture  of  sugar  from  the  beet-root. 
In  1852,  a  complete  set  of  machinery  for  that  purpose  was 
imported  thither  at  immense  cost,  and,  after  some  delay,  put 
in  operation.  The  raising  of  beets  excited  a,  furore  for  the 
time  in  Mormondom,  almost  equal  to  the  Multicaulis  mania 
in  the  Eastern  States.  Gardens,  fields,  and  even  house- 
yards  were  planted  with  the  saccharine  vegetable.  But  the 
want  of  sufficiently  experienced  and  competent  workmen  waa 


AVERSION   TO    OUTSIDERS.  263 

severely  felt.  The  cost  of  sugar  production  was  found  to 
greatly  exceed  that  (of  importation,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
superior  quality  of  the  latter.  The  experiment,  though  not 
a  success,  could  not  be  considered  an  absolute  failure.  The 
practicability  was  tested,  and  probably  some  future  age  may 
reap  the  benefits  of  it. 

The  Mormons  are  exceedingly  adverse  to  dependence  on 
outsiders,  characterized  by  them  as  Gentiles.  This  disposi- 
tion might  tend  to  facilitate  their  progress  in  the  mechanic 
arts,  but  they  are  almost  equally  opposed  to  profiting  by  the 
superior  skill,  knowledge,  and  attainments  of  those  who, 
from  education  or  principle,  are  opposed  to  their  domestic 
institutions  and  their  church. 


264  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

SCHOOLS — LITERATURE INTRODUCTION    TO     ELDER     KIMBALL, 

ETC. 

AS  might  be  supposed,  the  Mormon  schools  have  nothing 
to  boast  of,  being  little  more  than  an  appanage  of  the 
church,  where  the  children  and  youth  may  be  trained  in  its 
doctrines,  and  brought  up  in  habits  of  unlimited  obedience 
to  its  requirements.  The  elders  appoint  the  teachers,  select 
the  books,  and  superintend  the  general  affairs  of  all  con- 
nected with  them.  The  Catholic  Church  in  its  palmy  days 
never  manifested  more  jealousy  of  heretical  doctrines,  or 
was  more  vigorous  in  the  expulsion  of  all  works  considered 
of  that  tendency. 

"  What  sciences  do  they  teach,  then  ?"  you  question. 
"  What  principles  of  political  or  domestic  economy  are 
instilled  into  the  tender  minds  of  their  youth  ?" 

My  dear  friends,  I  cannot  tell  you  ;  but  of  one  thing  you 
may  be  sure  ;  it  is  nothing  of  a  democratic  tendency,  it  is 
nothing  that  can  be  presupposed  to  give  them  an  indepen- 
dence of  thought  or  feeling,  but  directly  the  reverse. 


A    SCHOOL-TEACHER.  265 

The  school  teachers  are  generally  old,  decrepit  persons, 
who  would  be  objects  of  charity  if  not  thus  provided  for. 
One  of  these  ladies,  females  are  all  ladies  in  this  age,  came 
one  day  to  the  house  of  Mrs.  Farrow  to  purchase  necessa- 
ries, as  she  termed  it.  These  consisted  of  half  a  pint  of 
molasses,  half  a  pound  of  coffee,  three  candles,  and  an  ounce 
of  tea.  I  thought  she  must  be  well  qualified  to  give  the 
children  lessons  in  economy.  She  was  altogether  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  specimens  of  womanhood  I  had  seen 
in  Utah — tall,  though  much  bent,  stout,  bony,  square-cor- 
nered— with  cold,  yet  eager  grey  eyes,  grim  aspect,  and 
great  volubility.  A  paralytic  attack  had  deprived  her  of 
the  use  of  one  side,  her  arm  was  useless,  and  she  was  obliged 
to  walk  with  a  crutch.  Indeed,  she  was  down  on  the  list  as 
a  pauper,  till  Brigham  Young,  actuated  either  by  motives 
of  charity  or  the  desire  to  relieve  the  church  of  a  burden, 
gave  her  the  appointment  of  school-teacher,  with  the  under- 
standing that  in  such  a  situation  she  must  take  care  of  her- 
self. 

Yet  this  singular  woman  had  seen  better  days.  Some- 
where in  the  states  she  had  a  husband  and  children,  but 
their  hearts  having  proved  too  hard  to  be  softened  by 
the  new  revelation,  she  abandoned  them  in  the  company  of 
the  first  Great  Prophet's  family.  She  had  one  thousand 
dollars  in  her  own  right,  and  after  managing  to  get  hold  of 
this  the  rogue,  by  the  power  of  a  special  revelation,  deliver- 
ed her  over  to  the  keeping  of  another.  She  remained  with 
him  a  year,  when  he  died,  and  she  was  left  without  friends 

12 


266  THE  HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

or  means.  But  she  had  great  industry,  and  having  cast  her 
lot  with  the  saints,  would  not  be  separated  from  them.  So 
she  floated  along  in  the  current  of  emigration  to  Salt  Lake 
City,  working  all  the  time  like  a  slave. 

"  How  many  scholars,  have  you  ?"  I  inquired,  when  in- 
formed of  her  profession. 

"No  particular  number,  sometimes  near  forty,  and  at 
others  not  over  ten." 

"  Then  the  children  are  not  regular  in  attendance." 

"  I  don't  think  it  makes  much  difference,"  she  replied. 
"  They  do  little  besides  knitting,  sewing,  and  saying  their 
catechism." 

"  Manual  labor,  and  theology,"  I  suggested.  "  Do  you 
not  teach  grammar  ?" 

"  Grammar,  no  ;  what's  the  use  of  grammar  ?  1  never 
could  see  any  sense  in  it,  and  very  much  doubt  if  any  body 
else  can.  I  wish  my  scholars  to  understand  what  pertains 
to  their  sa-lvation,  rather  than  the  wisdom  of  this  world, 
which  fadeth  away." 

"  But,  madam,  life  and  its  trials  are  here." 

She  turned  curtly  away  and  made  no  answer. 

Yet  so  far  as  I  could  learn,  she  was  a  tolerably  fair 
example  of  the  class  of  school-teachers;  but  priestcraft,  all 
the  world  over,  has  been  afraid  of  knowledge.  The  spirit 
of  the  age  demands  a  school  of  some  kind.  It  might  be 
dangerous  to  refuse,  hence  the  school  is  established,  but  is 
contrived  to  be  only  an  accessory  of  superstition. 

The  Mormons  have  what  they  call  a  Library,  though  it 


INTRODUCTION  TO   ELDEK   KIMBALL.  267 

i&  not  very  well  supplied  with  books.  To  make  up  the 
deficiency,  however,  the  works,  as  a  general  thing,  were  well 
(selected.  Hume  and  Paine  found  a  place  side  by  side  with 
Robertson  and  Volney.  The  most  approved  histories  of 
ancient  and  modern  times  were  conspicuously  displayed,  but 
there  was  little  poetry,  and  less  light  literature,  though  a 
few  standard  novels  were  there,  among  which  I  particularly 
noticed  the  works  of  Dickens  and  Marryatt. 

While  conversing  with  the  librarian,  Elder  Kimball  was 
seen  approaching.  I  knew  him  to  be  one  of  the  first  men 
in  the  place,  and  when  he  entered  we  were  introduced.  He 
was  very  sociable,  expressed  great  pleasure  at  seeing  me, 
though  I  doubted  his  sincerity,  and  even  went  so  far  as  to 
insinuate  a  desire  that  I  would  make  his  country  my  perma- 
nent home,  declaring  that  it  was  one  of  the  finest  places  on 
the  earth,  that  the  beauty  of  the  climate,  the  magnificence 
of  the  scenery,  and  the  fertility  of  the  soil  were  altogether 
unsurpassed.  He  then  expatiated  largely  on  the  unity  and 
brotherly  love  that  prevailed — the  obedience  and  fecundity 
of  the  wives — with  the  wealth  and  generous  tempers  of  the 
husbands. 

I  was  not  disposed  to  controvert  his  position,  but  made 
some  inquiries  about  the  general  appreciation  of  literature, 
and  whether  or  not  the  use  of  the  library  were  permitted  to 
all  indiscriminately. 

The  librarian  iQoked  at  the  elder,  and  for  a  moment  his 
countenance  changed. 


268  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

"  To  all  indiscriminately,"  he  replied,  "  with  certain  reser- 
vations and  exceptions,  that  mean  nothing." 

"  But  meaning  nothing,  why  are  they  made  ?" 

He  laughed  lightly,  and  turning  to  the  librarian,  inquired 
if  I  had  seen  "  those  choice  manuscripts." 

As  I  had  not;  they  were  immediately  produced. 

The  one  was  a  volume  of  poems  by  Eliza  Snow,  of  which 
the-  principal  ones  have  been  published  in  the  Deseret  News. 
They  were  written  in  a  fine,  though  legible  running  hand,  and 
were  much  more  interesting  as  a  specimen  of  chirograpliy 
than  as  poetry.  The  other  was  on  the  subject  of  theology, 
by  Parley  Pratt. 

"  These  works  have  never  been  published  ?"  I  said. 

"  They  have  not,"  he  answered.  "  We  prize  them  very 
highly,  and  that  is  probably  the  reason  why  they  have 
never  been  published." 

"  Indeed." 

"  Certainly  ;  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  if  given  to  the!" 
world  there  would  be  a  diversity  of  sentiment  about  them  ; 
at  present  there  can  be  but-  one." 

"  An  original  reason,  truly." 

"  You  must  remember,"  continued  the  elder,  "  that  the 
Mormon  church  is  yet  in  its  infancy.  Under  the  pressure 
of  persecution,  misrepresentations,  and  false  doctrines  from 
without,  there  could  be  little  encouragement  for  the  exercise 
of  original  genius.  We  value  these  works  rather  for  what 
they  portend  than  for  what  they  are.  The  Mormon  people 


THE  FUTURE  FOEETOLD  BY  THE  PAST.     269 

are  yet  in  a  Chaos ;  every  part  of  the  globe  has  contributed 
a  quota  to  swell  our  numbers.  They  come  with  dissimilarity 
of  tastes,  feelings,  sympathies,  and  views.  When  these 
discordant  elements  are  blended  into  one,  will  be  the  time 
for  us  to  produce  great  things  in  art,  and  make  striking 
discoveries  in  physical  science — and  not  till  then." 

"  You  design  to  monopolize  the  future  ?" 

"  In  part,  and  to  speak  in  common  parlance,  who  has  a 
better  right  ?  Our  people  are  now  accomplishing  the  first 
part  of  their  mission — the  conquest  of  material  nature. 
Long  ages  antecedent  to  Homer,  the  Greeks  produced 
nothing  in  literature  worthy  of  the  name,  but  they  were 
preparing  the  way  for  that  lord  of  song.  What  generations 
succeeded  the  advent  of  Plato  and  Demosthenes,  of  Phidias 
and  Praxiteles  1  The  eternal  city  was  in  the  bloom  of  its 
matured  strength  before  the  birth  of  Cicero  and  Virgil,  and 
the  Italian  people  did  not  at  once  burst  out  into  Dante  and 
J^ichael  Angelo.  What  felling  of  forests,  maraudings,  and 
piracies  preceded  in  Germany  the  appearance  of  Goethe, 
Schiller,  and  Jean  Paul,  with  wars  of  the  Roses,  Crusades, 
and  martyrdoms  in  England,  before  a  Shakespeare  or  Milton 
could  see  the  light  1" 

"  Heaven  grant  that  the  Mormon  people  may  be  spared 
such  an  ordeal,"  I  said,  half  involuntarily. 

"Amen,"  he  responded.  "But  do  you  then  cherish  a 
fraternal  feeling  with  them  ?" 

"  As  belonging  to  the  great  brotherhood  of  mankind,  I 
must,  and  do." 


270  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

"  I  honor  your  sincerity,"  he  replied.  "  Few  come  here 
with  any  other  purpose  in  view  than  to  turn  us,  and  all  we 
possess,  into  disgrace.  They  determine  to  be  dissatisfied 
from  the  first,  and  with  the  utmost  want  of  politeness  and 
good  breeding  themselves,  demand  the  most  rigid  courtesy 
of  us.  In  their  sight,  we  are  no  longer  men,  but  beasts.  I 
suppose  they  would  deny  us  the  privilege  of  living  or  breath- 
ing if  they  could.  One  woman  who  stopped  here  on  her 
way  to  California,  made  great  complaints  that  she  was  not 
treated  with  proper  deference,  because  some  men  on  the 
other  side  of  a  bridge  preferred  to  walk  over  previous  to 
her.  Yet  this  same  woman,  lady  I  will  not  call  her,  never 
hesitated  to  quiz  any  one  and  everybody  who  came  in  her 
way,  demanding  of  women  how  many  wives  their  husbands 
might  have,  and  questioning  little  children  about  their 
father's  families." 

"  Disagreeable,  certainly." 

"  Outrageous,  scandalous,"  he  persisted.  "  If  they  do 
not  like  us,  all  they  have  to  do  is  to  let  us  alone  ;  it  is  all 
we  ask  ;  our  protection  and  dependence  is  all  of  ourselves. 
We  ask  no  assistance  from  an  arm  of  flesh." 

I  have  reason  to  believe,  indeed  I  know,  that  similar  feel- 
ings are  generally  cherished.  They  only  wish  to  hold  com- 
munication with  the  "  Gentiles "  when  such  intercourse  can 
be  made  beneficial  to  themselves,  and  contribute  to  forward 
their  impious  designs. 

After  much  more  desultory  conversation,  the  elder  invited 
me  to  attend  a  cotillion  party  at  his  house,  which  was  to 


AN   INVITATION   ACCEPTED.  271 

come  off  in  a  few  days,  and  to  which  the  principal  digni- 
taries of  the  church  had  been  invited. 

In  reply,  I  informed  him  that  I  had  made  arrangements 
for  departure  from  that  place,  but  would  postpone  my  jour- 
ney for  a  few  days,  and  should  be  happy  to  attend. 


272  THE   HUSBAND  IN  UTAH. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

DECEPTIONS — RASCALITIES — DUPES — IMPOSTORS — PARLEY    PRATT 

HIS  SCHEMES  TO  RAISE  MONEY A  BEREAVED  HUSBAND  AND 

FATHER,  ETC. 

MORMONISM,  from  first  to  last,  is  a  system  ot  delusion 
and  imposition,  consequently  the  votaries  of  that  faith 
can  only  be  regarded  in  the  light  of  impostors.  Yet  we 
cannot  for  a  moment  doubt  that  many  of  the  weak-minded 
and  ignorant  men,  and  still  more  of  the  women,  are  actually 
sincere  in  their  belief,  and  would  probably  endure  martyr- 
dom rather  than  renounce  their  faith.  The  elders,  many  of 
whom  are  men  of  decided  talent  and  intelligence,  seem  to 
have  brought  deception  to  an  art,  and  to  practise  it  sys- 
v-ematically.  Foreign  countries  present,  of  course,  the  most 
eligible  theatre  for  their  operations,  and  hundreds  of  mis- 
sionaries are  constantly  employed.  These  expatiate  on  the 
wonderful  facilities  to  acquire  wealth,  and  possess  happiness, 
in  the  Mormon  country — on  the  beauty  and  healthfulness  of 
the  climate,  the  exuberant  fruitfulness  of  the  soil,  the  dowry 
of  land  and  stock,  with  the  great  demand  for  mechanic 


AN   OPPOSER   OF   POLYGAMY.  273 

labor.  Sometimes  they  mention  polygamy  incidentally, 
though  it  is  but  too  evident  that  many  come  here  without 
the  least  suspicion  of  being  brought  into  contact  with  such 
an  institution,  but  whose  disgust  and  horror,  when  informed 
of  it,  cannot  shake  their  faith  in  the  seductive  impos- 
ture. 

I  was  much  pleased  with  the  appearance  of  a  beautiful 
little  girl,  who  came  on  errands  to  Mrs.  Farrow's  store. 
She  belonged  to  an  English  family  of  the  better  class,  was 
very  talkative  and  intelligent,  and  so  prettily  dressed  that 
with  her  large,  limpid  blue  eyes  and  floating  curls,  she  looked 
like  a  fairy. 

"  Is  that  lovely  creature's  home  contaminated  by  the  plu- 
rality system  ?"  I  queried  of  my  good  landlady. 

"  No,  indeed.  I  should  as  soon  expect  to  see  the  summer 
turn  to  barrenness  as  Edward  Cunningham  with  a  second 
wife." 

"  Is  he  then  an  opposer  of  polygamy  ?" 

"  I  should  think  that  he  was." 

"  And  his  wife  ?" 

"  It  would  kill  her,  at  least  she  says  that  it  would,  and  I 
cannot  doubt  it.  Never  was  a  woman  more  devoted  to  a 
man.  Yet  they  do  say,"  continued  Mrs.  Farrow,  "  that 
some  of  the  elders  have  exerted  all  their  influence  to  induce 
Mm  to  take  another  wife." 

"  I  cannot  see  why  they  should  have  so  much  interest  ia 
the  matter." 

"  They  say  such  examples  are  bad  for  the  women  whose 
12* 


THE    HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

husbands  have  polygamous  tendencies — that  it  makes  them 
jealous,  discontented,  dissatisfied." 

"  I  presume  they  will  conquer  in  the  end.  If  he  believes 
heir  creed,  it  is  scarcely  possible  that  he  can  escape  the 
contaminating  influences  brought  to  bear  upon  him." 

"  He  not  only  believes  their  creed,  but  is  one  of  them," 
she  answered,  "  or,  perhaps  I  should  say,  one  of  us  ;  for 
though  I  am  opposed  to  some  things  the  elders  do  and 
teach,  I  am  professedly  a  rigid  Mormon/' 

I  could  not  refrain  from  smiling. 

"  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  Mr.  Cunningham  is  a  man  of  busi- 
ness capacity,  holds  a  subordinate  position  in  the  Legislative 
Assembly,  and  is  much  honored  and  sought  after,  though 
Mrs.  Cunningham  declares  that  had  she  known  of  polygamy 
and  some  other  things,  she  would  never  have  come  here." 

"  Then  they  did  not  know  of  it." 

"  They  never  dreamed  of  it  till  somebody  in  St.  Louis 
told  them.  But  Mr.  Cunningham  asserted  that  it  crfuld  not 
be,  and  persisted  in  his  belief  that  the  whole  story  was  a 
scandal,  got  up  by  the  malice  of  their  enemies,  till  he 
received  ocular  demonstration  of  the  fact.  Heighho,  our 
elders  are  but  men." 

Subsequently  I  had  the  pleasure  of  making  Mrs.  Cunning- 
ham's acquaintance,  and  learning  further  items  in  their  his- 
tory. She  had  a  family  of  beautiful  daughters,  and  her 
maternal  apprehensions  with  regard  to  their  future  fate  were 
easily  excited.  Lascivious  eyes  had  already  been  cast  upon 
them,  and  John  Taylor,  an  old  man,  deformed  and  crippled, 


275 

who  had  been  wounded  when  Joe  Smith  was  killed,  and  who 
was  the  husband  of  six  half-starved  wives,  had  actually  pre- 
sumed to  solicit  that  one  of  the  blooming  creatures  might  be 
sealed  to  him. 

"Why,"  said  the  passionate  woman,  her  face  Hushing 
with  excitement,  "  I  would  rather  see  my  child  dying  at  my 
feet,  than  know  that  such  a  doom  awaited  her.  The 
hideous  old  ogre  1" 

She  went  on  to  tell  how  they  had  been  cheated  and 
deceived  in  various  ways,  prefacing  her  account,  however, 
with  a  hope  that  I  would  not  betray  her  confidence,  and 
saying  that  it  was  a  relief  to  have  the  privilege  of  unbosom- 
ing her  troubles  to  some  one  whose  mind  was  not  warped 
with  the  infatuation  that  had  been  their  ruin. 

She  had  an  elegant  piano,  sofa,  and  other  furniture  usual 
with  people  in  their  station  of  life.  The  boxes  in  which 
they  were  packed  arrived  safely  at  St.  Louis,  when  the  Mor- 
mon agent,  into  whose  hands  they  passed,  took  the  liberty 
of  opening  and  inspecting  them.  He  was  delighted  with 
the  prospect  of  plunder,  and  succeeded  in  convincing  Mrs. 

C that  she  had.  better  leave  the  things  with  him,  as  the 

dry  air  of  the  plains,  and  other  emergencies,  would  render 
them  worthless,  and  that  he  would  give  her  a  draft  for  their 
value,  to  be  drawn  on  the  governor.  She  complied  with 
this  proposition,  though  with  great  reluctance,  but  her 
surprise  was  greater  when  arriving  at  Utah,  and  presenting 
her  draft,  the  dignitary  protested  it,  saying  that  it  "  wasn't 
worth  the  first  red  cent." 


276  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

"  I  wouldn't  have  minded  it  so  much,"  she  said,  "  but  we 
really  needed  the  money.  We  were  poor  enough  I  can 
assure  you.  I  had  never  before  known  what  poverty  was. 
When  we  started  to  cross  the  plains,  a  number  of  wagons 
drawn  by  cattle  were  loaded  with  our  goods,  but  my  hus- 
band had  not  been  accustomed  to  such  travelling,  or  to 
taking  care  of  cattle.  His  hired  men  were  brutal.  Over- 
exertion  and  the  want  of  necessary  nutriment  reduced  the 
animals  to  skeletons.  They  soon  gave  out,  and  their 
bleaching  bones  mark  the  path  for  the  future  traveller. 
Worn  out  with  suffering,  and  destitute,  we  arrived  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Salt  Lake." 

It  is  customary  with  the  Mormon  leader,  to  go  out  a 
day's  journey  to  meet  an  emigrating  party,  entertaining 
them  with  music,  and  fresh  provisions,  as  a  foretaste  of  the 
good  things  in  store  for  them.  It  enables  him  to  make  a 
show,  and  gives  a  certain  air  of  triumph  on  the  acquisition 
of  numbers  to  his  church. 

"  We  were  struggling  through  the  mountain  passes,  weary 
and  despondent,"  said  Mrs.  Cunningham,  "  when  our  ears 
were  suddenly  delighted  with  the  sound  of  music,  breathing 
and  dying  away  among  the  hills,  or  rolling  out  in  waves  of 
harmony,  that  reverberated  from  rock  to  rock.  We  listened 
with  beating  hearts  when  a  courier  rode  up,  and  informed 
us  that  the  Leader  was  approaching  with  an  escort  to  con- 
duct us  to  the  city." 

"  A  token  of  welcome,  I  suppose." 

"  And  our  hearts  were  gladdened  by  it ;  but,  oh,  sir,  it 


DISMAL   PROSPECTS.  277 

did  not  last  long.  A  few  days  found  us  living  in  this  little 
house,  so  destitute  of  comfort,  that  for  my  children's  sake,  I 
know  not  what  to  do.  For  myself,  I  could  bear  it,  but 
where  are  the  advantages  and  accomplishments  that  I  had 
promised  my  daughters.  What  is  their  prospective  future  ? 
it  makes  me  shudder  to  think  of  it." 

This,  I  am  satisfied  is  the  case  with  many  mothers,  even 
of  those  who  sit  down  quietly  themselves  under  the  curse  of 
polygamy.  They  can  bear  it,  but  their  hearts  bleed  for 
their  daughters.  And  many  a  father  who  practises  it 
unhesitatingly  himself,  shrinks  with  horror  and  despair  from 
the  immolation  of  a  favorite  child. 

"  My  husband,"  continued  Mrs.  Cunningham,  "  in  very 
industrious  ;  yet,  not  being  accustomed  to  manual  labor,  he 
could  do  little  that  way.  The  property  he  invested  in  the 
church  has  never  returned  him  a  cent,  and  probably  never 
will.  A  situation  was  offered  him  in  the  theatre,  and  abso- 
lute necessity  induced  him  to  accept  it.  His  days  are  spent 
copying  laws,  and  his  nights  are  devoted  to  those  dissolute 
scenes.  Oh,  sir,  my  heart  aches  and  my  brain  is  maddened, 
when  I  think  of  it." 

The  infatuation  of  this  woman  was  effectually  cured,  but 
too  late — too  late — for  all  practical  purposes.  Her  hand 
was  fairly  in  the  lion's  mouth,  and  she  could  not  remove  it, 
nor  break  his  teeth. 

I  subsequently  beheld  her  husband.  He  looked  pale, 
discouraged,  and  worn  out,  though  evidently  pleased 
with  the  attention  and  respect  his  presence  always  com* 


278  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

manded.  But  more  substantial  comforts  were  needed  to 
render  his  life  happy,  and  of  these  he  found  few  enough. 

Few  people  are  more  to  be  pitied  -than  those  dupes  of 
Mormon  duplicity,  who,  belonging  to  the  better  class  of 
foreigners,  aud  unable  from  ignorance  and  the  want  of  habit 
to  obtain  a  living  by  manual  labor,  embark  their  property 
as  a  speculation  in  the  hands  of  the  church,  and  are  then 
left  with  their  families  in  a  beggarly  state  of  wretchedness. 
Utah  is  rife  with  such  examples  ;  yet  the  Mormon  elders 
are  really  kind  and  generous  to  such  poor  emigrants  as  can 
work,  and  thereby  increase  the  productive  industry,  and 
consequently  the  wealth  of  the  country.  They  are  much 
too  politic  and  observant  not  to  understand  the  value  to 
any  community  of  a  sturdy,  hard-working  yeomanry. 

I  was  much  interested  in  the  story  of  a  rich  German 
family,  who  had  been  converted  to  Mornionism,  and  the 
idea  of  emigration.  It  is  really  strange  to  me  lyrw  people 
can  be  so  easily  induced  to  leave  their  homes,  and  the  sweet 
associations  of  their  childhood  and  riper  years.  But  it  is  the 
old  story  of  the  dog  and  the  bone.  Though  well  off,  they 
concluded  that  their  circumstances  might  be  improved. 
They  saw  the  shadow  in  the  water,  leaped  for  it,  and  lost 
their  all.  When  the  various  items  of  their  property  was 
collected  together,  it  amounted  to  the  snug  sum  of  15  or 
20,000  dollars  in  gold,  silver,  plate,,  and  jewelry.  And  of 
all  this  the  silly  man  was  induced  to  resign  possession  in 
favor  of  the  elder  to  whom  he  attributed  his  conversion, 
that  worthy  promising,  of  course,  to  make  all  right  at  a  sub- 


MISPLACED   CONFIDENCE.  279 

sequent  day,  to  secure  state-rooms  for  the  family  ou  board 
the  ship  in  which  they  were  to  emigrate,  and  to  provide 
them  necessary  and  respectable  accommodations  on  the 
entire  route. 

Imagine,  therefore,  the  surprise  and  indignation  of  this 
husband  and  father,  when  he  found  himself,  his  family,  and 
all  their  baggage  crowded  into  the  steerage,  amid  filth, 
fever,  noisome  smells,  and  indescribable  indecency.  He 
remonstrated  with  the  captain,  but  in  vain.  That  dignitary 
plainly  told  him  that  it  was  too  late  to  make  alterations  in 
the  arrangements  of  the  ship,  and  that  if  he  confided  his 
affairs  to  the  discretion  of  a  Mormon  priest,  there  was  no 
alternative  but  to  abide  the  consequences.  The  elder, 
meanwhile,  was  accommodated  with  two  state-rooms,  and 
every  convenience  and  luxury. 

Compelled  to  submit,  but  extremely  dissatisfied  with  their 
treatment,  they  were  landed  at  New  York,  and  being  utter 
strangers  to  the  language  and  customs  of  our  country, 
without  means  or  friends,  nothing  remained  for  them,  but 
to  float  along  in  the  current  of  emigration  to  Salt  Lake. 

Here  they  were  lodged  in  a  wretched  hut,  without  even 
the  commonest  necessaries  of  life,  or  any  prospect  of  a  bet- 
ter condition.  They  have  made  some  disagreeable  discover- 
ies. They  have  ascertained  that  the  property  deposited 
by  the  husband  in  the  hands  of  the  elder  belongs '  to  the 
church,  that  if  he  wants  a  house,  one  can  be  built  for 
him,  for  which  he  will  be  indebted  to  the  church  ;  and 
worse  than  all,  that  their  daughters  are  approaching  a 


280  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

marriageable  age,  and  will  soon  be  wanted  to  swell  the 
number  of  victims  to  the  institution  of  the  church.  They 
knew  nothing  of  polygamy  before  coming  here,  and  were 
filled  with  disgust  and  terror  at  the  prospect  before  them. 
Yet  it  should  not  be  supposed  that  these  particular  cases  of 
individual  suffering  and  discontent  are  general  throughout 
the  community,  or  that  all,  without  exceptions,  are  utterly 
vile  and  depraved.  Many,  doubtless,  are  pure  in  their  feel- 
ings, and  sincere  in  their  desires  to  serve  God,  however 
mistaken  and  unfounded  the  views  they  have  learned  to 
entertain.  Many  v  would  be  glad  to  be  freed  from  their 
bonds,  and  like  a  liberated  bird,  exult  at  their  release  ;  but 
others  are  infatuated  with  their  lot,  and  no  inducement 
could  tempt  them  to  abandon  it.  In  the  language  of  the 
Scriptures,  "  they  are  joined  to  their  idols." 

What  an  awful  weight  of  responsibility  rests  on  the  heads 
of  the  reverend  guides  and  directors  of  the  Mormon  people, 
and  what  a  fearful  reckoning  will  be  theirs  in  the  great  day 
of  accounts.  As  usual  with  their  class  in  all  ages  and 
countries,  these  men  are  inveterate  worshipers  of  the 
golden  calf.  They  bow  before  it,  it  fills  their  imaginations, 
and  concentrates  their  desires.  Their  cry  for  gold  is  inces- 
sant, and  when  this  necessary  article  is  not  to  be  had  at 
home  in  sufficient  quantities,  they  generally  start  out  on  a 
mission,  and  thus  it  rarely  fails  that  their  pockets  are  reple- 
nished. It  is  rumored,  though  whether  with  truth  or  not 
I  cannot  pretend  to  say,  that  some  of  the  elders,  who  have 
been  best  supplied  with  wives,  have  disposed  of  the  super- 


PARLEY   PKATT.  281 

fluous  to  Indian  chiefs,  or  half-breeds  in  the  neighborhood  ; 
in  all  cases  for  a  valuable  consideration  in  horses,  furs,  or 
other  articles  of  ready  merchandise.  Incredible  as  this 
might  appear,  if  related  of  any  other  enlightened  community, 
I  see  no  reason  for  disputing  its  occurrence  here.  The 
slavery  and  merchandise  of  women  is  the  usual  attendant 
of  polygamy.  Both  are  parts  of  one  system,  and  in  all 
countries  where  the  former  is  tolerated,  the  latter  comes  in 
as  coeval  and  co-existent.  I  cannot  see  why  the  example  of 
the  patriarchs  might  not  be  quoted  to  support  the  one  as 
well  as  the  other,  and  with  equal  propriety. 

Parley  Pratt,  a  noted  saint  in  this  region,  an  elder,  and 
the  husband  of  a  multitude  of  wives,  is  accused  of  being  the 
originator  of  this  scheme  to  "raise  the  wind."  At  any 
rate,  one  or  two  of  the  Mrs.  Pratts  mysteriously  disappear- 
ed, and  the  elder  immediately  came  out  with  a  fine  stud  of 
horses,  known  to  have  belonged  to  Walker,  the  Utah  Chief. 
As  report  goes,  a  trapper,  who  visited  Walker's  lodge  some- 
time afterwards,  found  it  inhabited  by  two  or  three  white 
women,  and,  to  his  great  amazement,  learned  the  particu- 
lars of  the  affair.  Parley,  however,  made  a  handsome 
speculation,  sold  the  horses  to  some  California  emigrants, 
and  employed  the  money  in  furnishing  himself  with  an  out- 
fit for  a  mission  to  Chili. 

The  Mormon  Missionaries  make  great  pretensions  to 
humility,  and  of  going  without  purse  or  scrip,  but  this  ia 
only  an  excuse  for  the  mendicity  they  affect  and  practise. 
The  initiated  know  very  well,  that  large  private  resources 


282  THE    HUSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

are  at  their  command,  though  it  is  only  in  cases  of  emer- 
gency that  they  can  be  induced  to  resort  to  them. 

Parley  is  likewise  an  inveterate  borrower.  Mrs.  Farrow 
informed  me  of  several  sisters,  who  having  inherited  money 
from  Eastern  quarters,  were  immediately  assailed  by  the 
necessitated  priest,  whose  exceedingly  bland  and  courteous 
manner  is  seldom  without  its  influence  on  the  female 
mind. 

But  it  seems  that  men  sometimes  are  quite  as  easily 
deluded  as  women,  and  this  redoubtable  elder  seems  to 
drive  a  brisk  trade  at  wheedling  and  swindling  them.  A 
poor  man  at  San  Bernardina,  was  induced  by  the  wily 
hypocrite  to  trust  two  or  three  hundred  dollars  of  hard 
earnings  in  his  hands.  Repayment,  though  promised  at 
the  time,  was  never  performed,  and  never  will  be. 

This  man  has  a  very  even  flow  of  language,  converses 
with  great  ease,  has  the  most  perfect  suavity  of  manner, 
and  looks  altogether  as  if  he  never  did  and  never  could  do 
wrong.  He  has  great  command  of  his  countenance,  never 
gets  angry,  though  at  times  you  can  catch  the  lurking  devil 
in  his  eye.  Indeed  he  is  a  perfect  specimen  of  the  class  of 
sanctimonious  rascals. 

There  seems  a  positive  cruelty  in  the  disposition  of  this 
man,  which  manifests  itself  in  the  sundering  of  family-ties 
and  connections.  He  has  persuaded  daughters  to  abandon 
their  homes,  wives  to  forsake  their  husbands,  and  mothers 
their  children.  «  He  has  carried  blight  and  desolation  to 
many  a  fireside,  and  caused  pangs  fiercer  than  those  of 


DETESTABLE   PRACTICES.  283 

death  to  many  a  human  heart.  Many  a  history  of  wrong 
and  shame,  in  which  he  has  been  chief  actor,  might  be 
related.  Many  a  tale  of  moral  delinquency,  and  mental 
anguish  and  bereavement,  is  connected  with  his  endeavors 
and  success  in  proselyting  unbelievers.  Of  course,  many  of 
the  others  are  equally  wicked,  and  the  distress  they  occasion 
by  the  separation  of  friends  and  families  is  actually  incalcu- 
lable. I  saw  a  beautiful  young  woman,  who  had  abandoned 
her  mother's  dying  bed,  and  left  her  grey-haired  father  to 
descend  in  sorrowful  loneliness  to  the  grave,  to  follow  one 
of  these  impostors,  and  become  his  tenth  or  twentieth  wife. 
This  was  vaunted  as  a  great  act  of  heroism  on  her  part,  and 
her  praises  were  sung  in  all  their  churches.  Another  had 
deserted  her  lover  and  prospective  husband,  who  was  well 
nigh  distracted  ;  and  a  third  was  forcibly  plucked  from 
their  clutches  by  her  brother,  who  invoked  the  aid  of  the 
law  (k).  Yet  so  great  was  her  infatuation,  that  all  his  prayers 
and  entreaties  were  of  no  avail.  In  the  night  she  arose, 
tore  the  sheets  of  her  bed  into  strips,  let  herself  down  by 
them  from  the  chamber  window,  and  escaped  to  them. 
When  sought  again,  she  was  not  to  -be  found  ;  they  had 
secreted  her.  Sometimes  women,  sometimes  men,  (/.)  and 
sometimes  children,  fall  victims  to  their  arts.  Their  presence 
in  the  family  circle  is  the  sure  prelude  of  misery  and  sin. 
The  tale  of  Mr.  Hays,  an  English  cattle-trader,  is  only  one 
amongst  a  thousand  that  might  be  told  of  the  fanaticism 
and  diabolism  that  ever  attends  the  hideous  and  slimy 
course  of  Murnionisni  in  its  progress  over  the  world.  _ 


284:  THE    HUSBAJSD    IN    UTAH. 

This  gentleman  was  wealthy  and  respectable.  He  had  a 
beautiful  cottage,  situated  on  a  small  stream  in  the  north  of 
England  ;  grounds  tastefully  laid  out,  surrounded  it,  and 
peace,  plenty,  and  domestic  happiness,  abode  within.  The 
wife  was  loving  and  beloved  ;  the  daughters  beautiful  and 
obedient ;  the  son  honorable  and  intelligent.  One  stormy 
night,  in  the  autumn  of  1854,  two  mounted  strangers  came 
to  the  gate,  and  implored,  for  the  sake  of  human  brother' 
hood,  that  shelter  and  protection  might  be  afforded  them  for 
the  night.  Mr.  Hays,  who  could  never  find  it  in  his  heart 
to  refuse  the  shelter  of  his  roof  even  to  the  wandering  men- 
dicant, readily  granted  their  request.  His  servants  were 
directed  to  take  care  of  their  horses  ;  they  were  invited  to 
his  parlor,  and  made  welcome  at  his  board.  The  suavity  of 
their  manners,  their  intelligence  and  apparent  respectability 
won  largely  on  the  heart  of  the  good  man,  and  when  it 
came  out  that  they  were  Americans,  and  designed  to  stay 
some  days  in  the  neighborhood,  he  invited  them  to  consider 
his  house  their  home.  For  several  days  the  subject  of  Mor- 
monism  was  not  broached,  indeed  their  fifst  endeavors 
seemed  to  be  to  gain  the  good  will  of  the  family.  In  this 
they  fully  succeeded,  when  their  designs  were  gradually 
unfolded. 

However,  the  strong  good  sense  of  Mr.  Hays  preserved 
him  from  falling  a  victim  to  the  delusion,  but  the  son  was 
easily  dazzled  with  their  glowing  pictures  of  Mormon  life 
and  libertinism.  He  deserted  his  parents,  went  to  Utah, 
was,  it  seems,  highly  delighted,  was  elevated  to  posts  of 


A   TEAITOEOUS   SON".  285 

dignity  and  importance,  and  with  each  step  became  more 
and  more  in  love  with  the  institutions  of  Mormondom. 
When  his  faith  was  sufficiently  established,  and  it  was 
deemed  expedient,  he  was  returned  to  England  as  a  mission- 
ary. His  first  efforts  were  against  his  father's  house,  but 
the  good  man,  though  receiving  his  son  affectionately, 
utterly  forbade  all  mention  of  his  heretical  doctrines. 
Opportunities,  however,  were  not  wanting  ;  the  mother  and 
sisters  were  duped,  and  consented  to  elope  and  go  to  Utah, 
without  letting  the  husband  and  father  into  the  secret  of 
their  designs.  Such  is  the  effect  of  fanaticism  ;  it  sears  the 
heart,  and  renders  it  insensible  to  sympathy  or  natural 
affection.  One  Monday,  after  the  arrival  of  his  son,  Mr. 
Hays  started  on  one  of  his  usual  expeditions  to  purchase 
cattle,  leaving  a  large  sum  in  money,  a  gold  watch,  and 
other  valuables  in  the  charge  of  his  wife.  He  left  his  home 
just  as  years  of  domestic  quiet  and  happiness  had  endeared 
it  to  him,  without  a  thought  or  misgiving  of  the  fearful 
destruction  awaiting  his  treasures.  He  returned  on  Satur- 
day, eager  to  greet  his  loved  ones,  and  receive  their  affec- 
tionate welcome  ;  but  how  great  was  his  surprise,  how 
unspeakable  his  horror  1  His  habitation  was  stripped  and 
deserted.  There  was  no  affectionate  greeting,  no  provision 
for  his  comfort.  He  called,  but  there  was  no  answer,  and 
to  describe  his  consternation  and  distress  would  be  impossi- 
ble. The  wife  had  not  only  deserted,  but  robbed  her  hus- 
band, and  the  son  had  proved  the  betrayer  of  his  father. 
They  had  likewise  induced  all  the  children  to  accompany 


286  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

them  ;  the  money,  the  jewels,  the  plate,  everything  portable, 
even  to  the.  bed-linen,  had  been  removed. 

The  poor  man  applied  to  the  police  in  a  state  actually 
bordering  on  distraction,  and  without  suspecting  that  Mor- 
monism  had  wrought  his  ruin.  By  careful  inquiries,  and 
previous  knowledge  of  the  Mormon  character,  the  officers 
were  induced  to  believe  that  such  might  be  the  case.  They 
hastened  to  Liverpool,  and  learning  that  a  large  emigrating 
party  of  that  people  had  just  departed  in  the  ship  Good 
Hope,  Captain  Sanders,  for  the  New  World,  it  was  thought 
his  family  might  be  on  board.  A  steamtug,  moored  at  the 
dock,  with  the  fires  up,  was  put  in  requisition,  and  the  pur- 
suit commenced.  But  the  morning  was  far  advanced,  and 
the  little  party  of  pursuers  were  not  much  encouraged  by 
the  captain  to  hope  that  they  would  have  any  chance  of 
overhauling  the  Good  Hope,  for  she  had  been  taken  out  to 
sea  by  a  strong  tug,  and  had  all  her  sails  set  to  a  favoring 
breeze.  After  crossing  the  bar  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mersey, 
a  dark  object  like  a  speck  was  discovered  on  the  horizon, 
which  the  captain  of  the  steamtug  made  out  with  his  glass, 
and  pronounced  to  be  the  ship.  For  two  or  three  hours  the 
chase  continued,  when  it  became  evident  that  they  were  fast 
gaining  on  the  big  ship.  When  within  hailing  distance,  the 
captain  of  the  Good  Hope  slackened  sail,  supposing  that  his 
pursuers  were  the  custom-house  officers,  and  had  scented 
something  wrong.  Coming  alongside,  the  party  jumped 
aboai'd,  and  when  they  announced  their  errand,  the  excite- 
ment among  the  Mormons  was  intense.  The  captain 


A    HEARTLESS   WIFE.  287 

received  them  courteously,  invited  them  into  his  cabin,  and 
asked  to  see  the  warrants  under  which  they  were  acting. 
They  had  none,  but  that  a  husband  should  be  so  basely 
deceived  and  robbed  of  his  household  gods  and  goods  at 
once,  was  pronounced  and  felt  by  the  captain,  who  declared 
himself  no  Mormon,  and  ignorant  of  the  whole  affair,  an 
unendurable  rascality,  and  he  was  evidently  anxious  to 
render  the  bereaved  and  nearly  distracted  man  all  the 
assistance  in  his  power.  The  women  and  children,  however, 
were  kept  carefully  out  of  sight  between  decks. 

As  the  search  went  on,  the  excitement  increased.^  The 
poor  husband  became  almost  a  raving  maniac  ;  alternately 
praying,  coaxing,  and  threatening,  sometimes  actually  kneel- 
ing at  the  feet  of  the  Mormon  leaders,  and  beseeching  them 
with  words  and  gestures  that  should  have  melted  a  heart  of 
stone,  to  restore  his  family.  His  entreaties  were  seconded 
by  those  of  the  captain  and  officers  ;  but  all  were  in  vain. 
For  two  hours  this  scene  continued,  the  ship  all  the  time 
being  carried  further  and  further  out  to  sea.  Finally  the 
officers  declared  that  rather  than  fail  in  their  mission,  they 
would  accompany  the  vessel  to  Boston,  and  denounce  the 
whole  gang  of  Mormon  impostors  to  the  British  authorities 
in  that  city.  The  firmness  of  the  officers  had  its  effect,  and 
the  elders  consented  to  produce  the  woman,  and  let  her  have 
an  interview  with  her  husband.  The  heartless  creatuie 
manifested  the  utmost  indifference  to  his  distress,  refused 
even  to  accept  his  proffered  hand  as  a  token  of  friendship, 
and  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  all  his  remonstrances,  until  the 


288  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH.       % 

officers  interposed,  telling  her  that  if  she  persisted  in  her 
determination,  she  would  be  denounced  to  the  Boston 
authorities,  and  probably  imprisoned.  This  information 
shook  her  resolution  ;  with  streaming  tears  and  accents  of 
woe,  she  bade  farewell  to  hei  deceivers,  and  was  handed 
into  the  tug  with  the  youngest  child.  The  husband  still 
knelt  on  the  bulwarks,  the  very  picture  of  paternal  distress, 
praying  and  entreating  that  yet  more  of  his  children  might 
be  restored  to  him.  Even  some  of  the  Mormons  were 
moved'  at  his  anguish  ;  they  began  to  murmur,  and  say  that 
it  was  a  shame  and  unnatural  to  separate  a  father  from  his 
children.  At  this  juncture,  the  Mormon  elders  peremptorily 
ordered  their  subordinates  to  go  below,  but  the  captain, 
finding  tjiat  numbers  were  on  his  side,  ordered  the  two  little 
girls  of  seven  and  nine  years  to  be  handed  to  their  delighted 
parent. 

Two  other  daughters,  seventeen  and  nineteen  years  of 
age,  absolutely  refused  to  return.  Finding  it  impossible  to 
break  the  spell  of  their  infatuation,  the  tug  cast  off,  and 
returned  to  Liverpool,  where  a  large  number  of  people  were 
collected  on  the  docks,  anxiously  waiting  to  learn  the  suc- 
cess of  the  expedition. 

Mr.  Hays  returned  home  with  a  remnant  of  his  family,  but 
scarcely  a  tithe  of  his  missing  property.  But  his  happiness 
is  destroyed  for  life  ; 

«'  For  sharper  than  a  serpent's  tooth  it  it 
To  have  a  thankless  child." 


DETERMINATION   OF  MRS.  HATS.  289 

The  charms  of  his  home  have  been  deranged  by  the 
filial  ingratitude  of  his  son,  the  worse  than  death  of  his 
daughters,  and  the  loss  of  affection  and  confidence  on 
the  part  of  his  wife.  She  publicly  avows  her  inflexible 
determination  to  join  the  Mormons  in  Utah  with  the  first 
opportunity.  Her  mind,  her  affections,  are  all  set  on  them. 
Oh,  the  folly,  the  wickedness,  the  depravity  of  human 
nature,  when  unpurified  and  unsupported  by  grace  divine  I 


290  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE      MORMON     PARTY MORMON     BELLES — INCIDENTAL     NOTICE 

OF    BRIGHAM   YOUNG    AND    HIS    FAMILY,  ETC. 

I  ATTENDED  the  Mormon  party,  to  which  Elder .  Kimball 
had  been  so  polite  as  to  extend  me  an  invitation.  It 
was  sufficiently  unique,  and  the  first  thing  that  surprised 
ine  was  the  great  disparity  between  the  numbers  of  women 
and  the  men.  In  my  boyish  days  I  had  been  accustomed 
to  attend  parties  of  pleasure  in  country  places,  where  the 
invitations  having  been  extended  almost  indiscriminately, 
resulted  in  raising  three  or  four  young  men  to  every  lady. 
In  more  select  assemblies  they  were  always  duly  paired,  but 
here  each  gentleman  came  attended  by  two,  three,  four,  or 
even  a  greater  number  of  the  opposite  sex.  Ladies  were  on 
the  sofas,  in  the  chairs,  and  there  was  an  abundance  of  wall- 
flowers. Surely  the  Mormons  have  not  to  complain  of  a 
scarcity  of  women,  as  is  usual  with  many  newly-settled  States. 
Cotillions  were  the  order  of  the  day,  and  the  figures  were  so 
arranged,  that  each  gentleman  danced  with  two  ladies.  A 
raised  platform,  well  furnished  with  seats,  accommodated 


THE   MOKMON   PARTY. 

the  band  of  music,  and  more  distinguished  spectators,  whose 
habits  or  disinclination  forbade  their  taking  part  in  tho 
dance. 

Several  of  the  elders  countenanced  the  proceedings  with 
their  presence,  attended  by  their  wives,  both  old  and  young. 
A  number  of  Gentiles  were  present,  among  whom  I  noticed 
some  young  ladies  who  were  attached  to  a  California  cara- 
van, and  whose  beauty  it  was  evident  made  a  decided 
impression  on  the  susceptible  Mormon  elders,  and  their  sub- 
jects. 

Several  Mormon  belles  were  pointed  out  to  me,  and  con- 
stant flirtations  and  coquetries  were  carried  on  in  the  inter- 
vals of  the  dance.  These  young  ladies,  however,  either 
were  or  appeared  decidedly  partial  to  outsiders,  and  some 
dashing  Californians  were  evidently  made  happy  by  the 
tokens  of  their  partiality. 

One  young  fellow,  ferociously  bearded,  and  dressed  in 
the  extreme  of  Parisian  style,  attracted  much  attention. 
One  ungloved  hand  was  literally  bespangled  with  rings,  a 
large  gold  chain  attached  to  a  watch  of  the  same  metal, 
crossed  his  vest,  and  a  diamond  pin  glittered  on  his  bosom. 
He  was  evidently  a  gentleman  loafer  or  gambler,  and  his 
attentions  to  the  ladies  seemed  particularly  displeasing  in 
certain  quarters. 

"  These  girls  seem  partial  to  the  Gentiles,"  I  observed  to 
one  of  the  bystanders. 

"  Pshaw,"  he  replied,  "  that  fellow  has  gold  in  his 
pockets,  as  well  as  on  his  person,  they  are  after  that." 


292  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

"  Think  so  ?" 

"  Nothing  can  be  more  certain.  There  will  be  a  row  soon. 
These  Mormons  are  jealous  fellows." 

Before  I  had  time  to  reply,  supper  was  announced,  and 
there  was  a  general  scramble. 

The  Californian  gave  his  arm  tc  one  of  the  ladies,  the 
most  beautiful  in  the  company.  She  accepted  it  with  appa- 
rent pleasure.  He  seated  himself  by  her  side  at  table,  and 
helped  her  to  the  daintiest  viands,  receiving  the  brightest 
smiles  and  most  beaming  glances  in  return.  The  feast 
would  have  charmed  an  epicure,  and  both  the  elder  who 
gave  the  party,  and  his  numerous  wives,  seemed  pleased 
with  the  hilarity  and  enjoyment  of  their  guests. 

After  supper,  the  dancing  was  resumed;  the  Californian 
meantime  monopolizing  the  beauty,  and  regarding  those 
around  him  with  a  sneer  and  grin,  that  showed  his  white 
teeth  glittering  through  his  moustache,  exactly  as  a  wolf 
might  be  supposed  to  regard  his  compeers,  should  they 
approach  too  near  some  dainty  morsel  reserved  for  him- 
self. 

"  He'll  haul  in  his  horns,  when  Sam  Sloan  gets  sight  of 
him,"  said  some  one  at  my  elbow.  "  I'll  stake  my  salvation 
on  that,  any  time." 

"  Who  is  Sam  Sloan  ?" 

"  A  young  Mormon,  who's  a  match  for  any  Californian," 
was  the  answer. 

I  had  before  heard  of  this  worthy,  and  waited  with  some 
impatience  for  his  appearance. 


A  KOW.  293 

I  was  doomed  to  disappointment.  He  did  not  come,  but 
another  young  fellow,  flush  and  fiery,  walked  up  to  the  lady, 
and  asked  her  hand  for  the  dance.  She  was  engaged  for 
the  evening.  He  turned  away,  regarding  the  moustached 
Californian  with  a  scowl  of  defiance,  quite  as  black  as  his 
own.  The  fellow  clapped  his  hand  to  his  side,  as  if  to  draw 
thence  a  concealed  weapon,  when  the  Mormon  deliberately 
trod  ott  his  toes.  There  was  a  low  growl  of  rage,  followed 
by  a  heavy  blow.  The  Mormon  staggered,  but  recovered 
in  a  moment,  and  returned  it  with  interest.  Others  rushed 
in,  not  to  separate,  but  take  part  with  the  combatants. 

"  As  I  told  you,"  whispered  one  beside  me. 

The  dancing  ceased  ;  there  was  a  halt  in  the  music  ; 
ladies  screamed,  the  elders  rose.  At  length,  when  the 
tumult  was  fast  becoming  general,  a  voice  rang  out  above 
the  din  in  clear,  authoritative  tones. 

"  Put  those  fellows  out  in  an  instant,"  it  said,  "  and  pro- 
ceed with  the  amusement." 

Fifty  stout  men  sprang  in  a  moment  to  obey  the  orders, 
while  I  turned  to  look  at  the  speaker,  and  recognized 
Brigham  Young.  He  had  sat  silent  and  unnoticed,  crouched 
in  a  dark  corner,  with  his  hat  on,  though  the  others  wero 
uncovered.  Whether  this  was  accidental  or  the  result  of 
design,  I  am  unable  to  say.  Certain  it  is,  that  his  Mormon 
majesty  never  removes  his  hat  in  public.  There  he  stood, 
the  niost  conspicuous  person  in  the  room,  gazing  calmly 
over  the  scene.  In  a  very  few  minutes  order  was  restored, 
and  the  dancing  re-commenced,  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 


294  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

Brigham  Young  is  a  remarkable  man,  second  to  the 
Mohammed  of  the  Western  Continent,  and  like  Abubeker 
and  AH,  abundantly  qualified  to  carry  out  and  perpetuate 
his  scheme  of  imposture  and  fanaticism.  He  can  enact  the 
part  of  chief  magistrate  and  supreme  pontiff,  or,  with  equal 
facility,  he  turns  mountebank  and  astonishes  the  world  by 
such  antics  as  few  civil  and  religious  functionaries  would 
dare  to  attempt.  He  supports  by  precept  and  example  a 
domestic  institution  never  before  admitted  among  enlighten- 
ed people,  yet  his  community  receives  monthly  accessions  of 
strength  by  the  arrival  of  emigrant  converts  from  the  dif- 
ferent European  nations.  Young,  beautiful,  and  accom- 
plished women  ;  men  of  property  and  intelligence  lay  their 
offerings  on  the  shrine  of  his  faith,  solicitous  of  his  benedic- 
tions, and  obedient  to  his  mandates.  Some  of  his  messages 
from  the  pulpit  are  perfect  gems  in  their  way,  witty, 
original,  in  many  respects  decidedly  laughable,  and  utterly 
unlike  anything  of  the  kind  ever  heard  before.  He  chooses 
texts  from  a  Bible,  a  newspaper,  or  an  almanac.  He 
quaintly  touches  on  every  conceivable  topic — war,  com- 
merce, peace,  industry,  art,  and  love.  These  comprehen- 
sive addresses  generally  include  a  pretty  sharp  dig  at  the 
President,  and  rather  severe  criticism  on  governmental  affairs 
at  Washington.  Indeed,  it  is  evident  that  indistinct  visions 
of  future  greatness,  and  supreme  independent  power,  some- 
times float  through  the  brain  of  the  distinguished  hierarch ; 
yet  his  strong  good  sense  prevents  any  undue  display  of 
vanity  or  self-importance.  At  this  time  it  is  impossible  to 


BRIGHAM    YOUNG.  295 

balance  his  faults  and  virtues,  or  to  decide  whether  the 
title  of  enthusiast  or  impostor  more  properly  belongs  to 
him  and  his  predecessor.  There  is  but  a  step  between  the 
two.  The  warm  suggestions  of  fancy  might  be  mistaken  for 
particular  inspirations  from  heaven  ;  the  labor  of  thought 
may  expire  in  rapture  and  vision,  and  the  inward  sensation 
take,  to  the  deluded  understanding,  the  form  and  attributes 
of  an  angel  of  God. 

History  is  filled  with  such  instances.  Numa,  the  beloved 
citizen,  good  king,  and  wise  legislator,  believed  in  his 
Egeria,  and  the  demon  of  Socrates  is  a  memorable  example 
of  how  a  wise  man  may  deceive  himself,  how  a  good  man 
may  delude  others,  and  how  quietly  the  conscience  may 
slumber  in  a  middle  state  between  self-illusion  and  volun- 
tary fraud. 

It  is  said  that  a  prophet  never  has  honor  in  his  own 
country,  and  with  equal  propriety  might  have  been  added 
nor  in  his  own  time  and  age.  The  judgment  of  contem- 
poraries is  generally  inflamed  by  passion  and  prejudice,  and 
it  is  a  trait  of  human  nature  to  despise  the  day  of  small 
things.  Yet — 

"  Large  streams  from  little  fountains  flow- 
Tall  oaks  from  little  acorns  grow." 

As  an  evidence  of  the  talent  and  ability  of  the  Mormon 
leader,  I  would  let  facts  speak  for  themselves.  They  will 
reverberate  through  future  ages,  and  influence  the  decisions 
of  posterity.  Whether  famous  or  infamous,  the  name  of 
Brigham  Young  is  inseparably  connected  with  the  origin 


296  THE   HUSBAND    IN    UTAH. 

• 

and  history  of  a  numerous  and  remarkable  sect.  When 
strong  enthusiasm  impelled  from  within,  and  a  fiery  persecu- 
tion pressed  from  without,  he  led  them,  then  numbering 
many  thousands,  to  seek  a  safe  home  in  the  distant  and 
almost  impenetrable  wilderness.  Could  it  have  been  mere 
chance  or  accident,  or  was  it  an  extraordinary  foresight 
that  led  them  thither  to  build  a  city,  that,  like  Tadmor  in 
the  Wilderness,  should  be  a  half-way  house — a  grand  cara- 
vansera,  to  gather  wealth  and  importance  frgm  the  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  soon  to  be  on  their  way  to  the  Pacific 
shores.  Peace  with  the  Mormons  was  not  necessary  in 
Illinois  ;  it  is  at  the  great  Salt  Lake. 

This  man  likewise  has  managed  to  acquire  and  retain  an 
almost  unbounded  influence  over  the  minds  of  his  followers. 
Neither  envy,  malice,  nor  rival  leaders  have  succeeded  in 
dethroning  hirru  Even  the  worthy  President  seems  to  have 
considered  the  experiment  of  forcibly  ejecting  him  from 
authority  as  an  act  of  dangerous  tendency.  Why  else  was 
the  appointment  of  Colonel  Steptoe  to  the  territorial  govern- 
ment of  Utah  and  Mormondom  suffered  to  quietly  fall  to 
the  ground,  when  it  was  ascertained  that  Brigham  would 
not  willingly  resign.  This  step  affords  a  dangerous  prece- 
dent. Either  the  appointment  should  never  have  beeri 
made,  or  else  carried  out  at  all  hazards.  If  the  general 
government  cannot  or  does  not  make  them  respect  its 
authority  now,  what  are  we  to  expect  when  the  population 
of  Utah  has  increased  sevenfold  ? 

Yet  it  must  be  confessed  that  Brigham  Young  has  shown 


3JEIGHAM   YOUNG.  297 

* 

much  discretion  in  the  exercise  of  the  one  man  power,  and 
has  maintained  a  creditable  city  government  at  little 
expense.  Setting  himself  above  the  laws  of  his  country, 
and  scorning  the  wisdom  of  others,  his  own  mother  wit 
readily  served  as  a  substitute  for  both.  Yet  like  many 
other  great  men,  the  Mormon  leader  is  not  eminently  dis- 
tinguished for  the  moral  virtues.  In  fact,  he  affects  no 
superior  sanctity,  but  is  rather  all  things  to  all  men.  To 
the  man  of  business,  he  is  a  man  of  business  ;  to  the  man.  of 
pleasure,  a  man  of  pleasure  ;  to  that  class  who,  above  all 
others,  obtain  the  first  place  in  the  affections  of  a  hero,  he 
is  most  devoted  in  his  attentions,  and  liberal  of  his  gifts — 
here  a  brooch,  and  there  a  ring  ;  here  a  collar,  and  there  a 
muff.  To  those  who  have  property  to  sell,  he  is  a  liberal 
buyer,  and,  to  his  credit  be  it  spoken,  he  always  pays  his 
debts.  He  is  the  munificent  patron  of  artists  and  mechanics, 
especially  those  of  his  own  people,  and  either  employs  them 
himself,  or  obtains  employment  for  them.  Yet  Brigham 
Young  would  be  a  dangerous  enemy,  and  many  fearful 
though  secret  crimes  have  been  imputed  to  him,  with  what 
justice  it  is  impossible  to  say.  Perhaps  the  greatest 
evidence  that  these  reports  are  not  without  foundation  is 
afforded  by  the  fact,  that  he  is  so  afraid  of  assassination,  as 
to  be  unpleasantly  suspicious  of  strangers.  Is  this  mere 
frailty  of  mental  constitution,  or  is  there  another  cause  in 
the  promptings  of  a  guilty  conscience  ? 

It  is  not  only  in  the  civil  government  of  a  people,  or  the 
rise  and  establishment  of  a  new  faith,  that  the  chief  of  Mor- 


298  THE   HUSBAND   IN    UTAH. 

mondom  is  distinguished.  In  his  domestic  relations  he  ia 
equally  remarkable.  The  conjugal  ties  of  Mohammed  sink 
into  utter  insignificance,  when  compared  with  those  of  the 
Mormon  leader.  The  Commander  of  the  Faithful,  could 
only  boast  a  daughter^  while  Brigham  can  point  to  his  scores 
of  children  with  the  exultation  of  a  Jewish  Patriarch. 

It  is  evident,  however,  that  motives  of  affection  have  not 
always  governed  in  his  choice  of  wives  ;  many  of  these 
dames  being  old,  ill-formed,  and  ugly,  but  it  frequently  hap- 
pens in  matrimonial  affairs,  that  the  solid  charms  of  gold 
and  silver  are  more  highly  prized  than  mental  or  physical 
accomplishments.  It  is  said,  too,  that  some  of  his  younger 
brides  have  been,  exceedingly  reluctant,  and  that  once  or 
twice  a  rival  disappeared  in  a  remarkable  manner.  But 
such  reports  are  speedily  hushed  up  without  investigation, 
and  the  rumor  left  to  itself  soon  dies. 

The  polygamistic  tendencies  of  the  Mormon  leader  have 
been  the  occasion  of  several  tragic  occurrences.  How 
could  it  be  otherwise  when  his  insatiable  appetite  seems  to 
increase  with  whaf  it  feeds  on,  and  he  is  continually  looking 
abroad  for  beautiful  or  wealthy  women,  whose  physical  or 
substantial  charms  can  contribute  to  embellish  still  farther 
his  domestic  establishment.  What  is  worse,  the  opposition 
of  the  female  is  never  suffered  to  interfere  with  his  arrange- 
ments. By  fair  means  or  by  foul,  by  harsh  or  gentle 
measures,  the  reluctance  of  the  maiden  must  be  over- 
come. He  never  abandons  an  object  of  pursuit  or  desire. 

As  a  general  thing,  however,  the  believing  sisters  con- 


FANATICISM   OF   THE    SISTERS.  299 

sider  it  a  great  object  to  be  "  sealed  "  to  him,  by  which,  as 
they  suppose,  their  salvation  is  ensured  ;  an  absurdity 
worthy  of  the  dark  ages,  and  a  slight  advance  on  the  doc- 
trine of  Mohammedanism,  that  women  have  no  souls  to  be 
saved. 


300  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

EXTERIOR      INFLUENCES YOUNG      MEN DISSATISFACTION     WITH 

POLYGAMY CHANGES     TO    BE    WROUGHT    IN    THE    SYSTEM    OF 

MORMONISM,  AND  HOW. 

{(  T71AITH,  hope,  and  charity  ;  and  the  greatest  of  these 
JD  is  charity,"  saith  the  apostle.  Faith  in  the  abiding 
truths  of  Christianity,  and  the  Rock  of  Ages  ;  Hope  in  the 
strong  good  sense  and  principle  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  people  ; 
and  Charity  that  covereth  a  multitude  of  sins,  would  lead  us 
not  to  despair  even  of  the  Mormons.  Influences,  both 
exterior  and  internal,  are  at  work  among  them  that  can 
scarcely  fail  to  soften  and  modify  the  more  peculiar  doctrines 
of  their  faith,  and  their  most  obnoxious  practices.  Could 
people  of  other  persuasions,  with  enlarged  and  benevolent 
views  and  motives,  be  induced  to  settle  among  them,  esta- 
blish schools,  and  erect  churches,  there  can  be  little  doubt 
that  in  process  of  time  a  radical  change  might  be  effected 
in  their  peculiar  tenets.  Already  the  influence  of  the  emi- 
grants and  occasional  visitors  to  the  country,  has  not  been 
lost,  and  we  may  confidently  anticipate  that  as  travel 


THE   YOUNG  MEN.  301 

increases,  and  facilities  for  communication  with  other  parts 
of  the  world  are  opened,  while  other  communities  and  States 
spring  up  around  them,  the  Mormons,  for  the  sake  of  public 
opinion,  and  to  conciliate  the  good  will  of  mankind,  if  for  no 
other  purpose,  will  grow  ashamed  of  their  excesses,  and  lop 
off  such  excrescences  as  must,  when  known,  retard  the  pro- 
gress of  their  faith.  Customs  now  tolerated  for  mere  expe- 
dience and  the  increase  of  numbers,  will  be  left  to  become 
unfashionable,  and  finally  grow  obsolete,  when  the  supposed 
necessity  no  longer  exists. 

The  younger  portions  of  the  community  are  evidentty 
disaffected  to  the  existing  state  of  things.  With  the  con- 
siderate, the  thoughtful,  and  the  intelligent,  it  could  scarcely 
be  otherwise.  They  know  it  to  be  an  occasion  of  reproach, 
and  naturally  shrink  before  the  contumely  and  maledictions 
of  the  civilized  world.  Thus  far  polygamy  and  its  kindred 
vices  have  been  indebted  to  the  power  of  priestcraft  for 
their  support.  When  priestcraft  falls,  as  it  surely  must,  in 
the  lapse  of  generations,  we  may  expect  the  prohibition  of 
its  attendant  vice. 

There  is  one  class  of  the  community  whom  hitherto  I 
have  not  noticed,  yet  who  are  destined  to  act  an  important 
part  in  the  future.  I  allude  to  the  young  men,  flush,  fiery 
fellows,  characterized  by  a  defiant  air  and  independent 
spirit.  Between  these  and  the  elders  feuds  and  jealousies 
have  already  arisen,  in  many  cases,  and  we  cannot  doubt 
that  similar  causes  will  produce  the  same  effects,  with  still 
more  gratifying  results,  in  the  time  to  come.  That  the 


THE    HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

elders  should  monopolize  the  youngest,  most  beautiful,  and 
wealthy  women,  must  of  itself  be  sufficiently  displeasing  to 
the  young  men,  without  further  aggravation  from  the  fact, 
that  as  brothers  they  must  witness  the  humiliation  and 
unhappiness  of  their  sisters,  added  'to  the  dishonor  and 
domestic  annoyances  of  their  mothers.  I  have  heard  youug 
fellows  anathematize  the  whole  Mormon  system  on  this 
account ;  while  others  would  run  off  to  California  with  their 
sweethearts,  and  there  abide,  in  order  to  preserve  the 
objects  of  their  love  from  falling  beneath  the  libidinous 
influence  of  those  they  hated.  Brothers  frequently  urge 
their  sisters  to  depart  for  California,  and  escape  the  conta- 
mination of  living  in  a  Mormon  harem.  A  young  man  by 
the  name  of  Bryce,  a  Mormon  in  sentiment,  yet  independent 
and,  for  a  backwoodsman,  uncommonly  intelligent,  said  that 
he  had  a  sister  whom  Elder  John  Taylor  had  married  for 
his  sixth  wife.  That  he  considered  such  connections  abomi- 
nable, and  no  marriage  at  all  ;  that  he  told  his  sister  so, 
and  offered  to  bear  her  expenses  wherever  she  wished  to  go, 
if  she  would  only  abandon  the  paramour. 

"  And  did  she  accept  your  offer  ?"  I  inquired. 

"  No  ;  she  said  that  here  she  was  as  good  as  the  best ;" 
he  answered,  "  but  anywhere  else  she  would  certainly  be 
despised,  and  her  child  called  by  an  opprobrious  epithet, 
which  she  could  not  bear." 

A  young  man,  whose  parents  were  from  Oneida  County, 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  expressed  a  bitter  aversion 
to  polygamy.  He  had  been  wounded  in  the  tenderest  point. 


POLYGAMY   AN   EVIL.  303 

His  affianced  bride,  within  one  week  of  the  time  appointed 
for  their  marriage,  jilted  him  in  favor  of  one  of  the  elders, 
an  old  man  of  forty  years,  whose  house  was  already  shared 
by  four  wives.  In  consideration  of  her  youth  and  beauty 
he  promised  the  fifth  a  separate  establishment,  which,  how- 
ever, she  never  obtained. 

Another  young  man  with  whom  I  conversed,  had  suffered 
severely  when  a  child,  from  the  persecutions  of  his  father's 
second  wife.  These  women,  it  seems,  are  even  more  cruel 
and  selfish  than  step-mothers  are  reported  to  be,  and  the 
helpless  children  of  their  rivals  are  made  the  subjects  of 
their  concentrated  jealousy  and  rage.  This,  however,  must 
materially  depend  on  the  natural  dispositions  of  the  females, 
mid  would,  by  the  Mormons  at  least,  be  referred  to  the 
faults  of  the  individual  rather  than  the  system. 

A  highly  intelligent  young  man,  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
tive Assembly,  thus  expressed  himself  on  the  subject  of 
polygamy  : 

"Polygamy,  it  must  be  admitted,  is  an  evil.  It  is  an 
institution  that  presses  heavily  against  the  best  interests  of. 
our  people.  It  banishes  the  best  women  ;  it  operates 
against  the  increase  of  our  population,  instead  of  assisting 
it,  as  has  been  supposed.  It  prevents  the  establishment  of 
families,  obstructs  the  proper  education  of  children,  and  is 
the  fruitful  source  of  a  vast  amount  of  vice  and  misery. 
Being  thus  injurious,  have  the  priests  and  elders  any  right 
to  fasten  it  on  our  community  ?  Shall  the  free  Mormon 
people  have  their  best  interests  subverted,  that  these  men, 


304  THE   HUSBAND   IN   UTAH. 

fallible  and  erring  like  ourselves,  may  have  a  better  chance 
to  gratify  their  libidinous  desires  ?  What  is  their  sensual 
gratification  compared  with  the  great  interests  of  the  com- 
mon weal  ?  Polygamy  was  first  practised  by  the  priest- 
hood— by  the  priesthood  it  has  been  supported.  They  have 
rendered  it  fashionable,  and  if  its  existence  be  prolonged  to 
futurity,  it  will  be  through  their  influence." 

Another  one  remarked,  in  language  almost  equally 
strong  : 

"  Our  females  can  never  take  the  rank  and  position 
among  us  that  properly  belong  to  them,  while  polygamy  is 
tolerated.  Deprived  of  their  legitimate  influence  as  wives 
and  mothers  of  families,  they  lose  that  self-respect  which  is 
one  of  the  strongest  safe-guards  of  female  virtue,  become 
indolent,  careless,  and  reckless,  and  it  is  needless  to  say 
that  the  consequences  to  the  whole  community  are  most 
disastrous.'7 

And  again  : 

"  The  experience  of  ages  may  be  trusted.  Polygamy  is  a 
curse,  a  mildew  that  has  blighted  every  region  it  has 
touched  since  the  creation  of  the  world.  It  presents  no  new 
phase,  but  from  the  first  to  the  latest  periods  it  has  been 
destructive  of  the  happiness  of  individuals,  the  peace  of 
families,  and  the  welfare  of  communities." 

It  cannot  be  believed  that  many  women  sit  down  satisfied 
under  the  existing  state  of  things.  Womanly  nature  must 
rise  at  times  superior  to  the  influence  of  priestcraft,  and 


A  PROPHECY  FOR  THE  FUTURE.         305 

though  powerless  in  themselves  to  effect  the  change,  they 
will  be  useful  and  efficient  auxiliaries  of  reform. 

Hence,  we  may  confidently  expect  that  the  Mormons  of  a 
hundred  years  hence  will  be  very  different  from  those  to-day, 
and  that  future  generations  will  redeem,  in  some  degree,  the 
errors  of  the  past  and  the  present. 


EXPLANATORY    NOTES. 


(a.)  There  may  be  instances  of  such  perverted  feelings,  though  wo 
must  hope,  for  the  honor  of  human  nature,  that  they  are  of  rare 
occurrence.  Married  life  has  its  sorrows  and  evils,  but  nothing  that 
equals  the  immorality  and  crime  where  a  shameless  system  of  poly- 
gamy prevails. 

(6.)  This  refers  to  the  general  external  appearance,  and  every  one 
knows  what  a  vast  amount  of  domestic  misery,  or  social  dissatisfac- 
tion, may  be  hidden  under  a  smiling  exterior. 

(c.)  These  old  people  had  never  belonged  to  the  Mormon  Church, 
consequently  no  Mormon  elders  attended  at  their  funerals,  and  they 
were  refused  a  place  in  the  Mormon  cemetery. 

(d.)  This  egotism  is  a  peculiar  trait  of  the  Mormons;  they  are 
excessively  fond  of  talking  of  themselves,  and  the  questions,  What 
do  you  think  of  us  ?  How  do  you  like  our  country  ?  What  do  you 
think  of  our  institutions  ?  are  incessantly  asked  of  a  stranger. 

(«.)  In  Mormondom  the  murder  of  wives  is  not  made  a  subject  of 
newspaper  comment,  but  the  silence  of  the  newspaper  is  no  proof 

807 


308  EXPLANATORY   NOTES. 

that  such  crimes  do  not  actually  exist.  "Was  there  ever  a  despotic 
country  where  the  press  even  hinted  at  the  actually  existing  state  of 
things  ?  and  Mormondom,  in  its  domestic  institutions,  is  a  despotism 
of  the  very  blackest  kind,  and  will  probably  remain  so  for  some  time 
to  come,  the  efforts  of  the  Federal  Government  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding. 

(/.)  The  better  class  of  English  emigrant  Mormons  should  not  be 
confounded  with  the  inhabitants  of  Brickville.  Some  of  the  former 
are  quite  as  amiable  men  as  it  is  possible  for  Mormons  to  be ;  whiU 
the  latter,  evenjn  their  own  country,  belonged  to  the  class  of  loafer* 
and  vagabonds. 

(g.)  There  are  two  elders  bearing  the  name  of  Snow ;  the  one 
numbered  among  the  Twelve  Apostles  bears  the  sobriquet  of  Lorenzo ; 
the  other's  name  is  Erastus. 

(A.)  The  Mormons  are  extremely  fond  of  recommending  their  prac- 
tices and  opinions  by  the  history  of  Christianity ;  and  they  dwell  with 
great  stress  on  the  fact  that  one  or  two  chapters,  and  many  of  the 
sentences  and  sentiments,  contained  in  their  bible,  are  faithful  copies, 
word  for  word,  of  the  Bible  of  the  Christians.  I  was  once  somewhat 
amused  while  listening  to  a  conversation  between  a  Mormon  elder 
and  a  Baptist  clergyman.  The  Baptist  boldly  declared  that  there  was 
not  a  word  of  truth  in  the  Mormon  bible. 

"Not  a  word  of  truth,"  repeated  the  Mormon.  "Have  you  ever 
read  it?" 

"Never." 

The  Mormon  turned  over  the  leaves  cf  his  book  to  a  chapter  the 
exacc  counterpart  of  one  contained  in  the  Bible  of  Moses,  and  pre- 
sented it  to  his  opponent,  inquiring  what  he  thought  of  that. 


EXPLANATORY   NOTES.  309 

(».)  It  would  indeed  be  a  matter  for  which  to  thank  God  were 
these  assertions  strictly  true ;  but  such  is  not  the  fact.  They  have 
restored  courtesanisra  to  its  old  Roman  dignity,  and  its  female  vic- 
tims, instead  of  thronging  their  streets,  surround  their  firesides. 
This,  however,  is  a  subject  much  too  delicate  to  be  enlarged  upon ; 
but  unfaithfulness  in  wives  is  so  common,  that  long  ago  it  ceased  to 
be  a  disgrace. 

(j.)  Mothers  may  not  sacrifice  their  offspring,  through  shame  or  the 
sternness  of  public  opinion,  but  other  motives  may  be  quite  as  potent. 
Among  the  poor,  want  prevails,  and  the  necessity  of  having  so  many 
mouths  to  fill  and  backs  to  clothe  is  sometimes  felt  as  a  serious  evil. 
More  than  one  case  of  infanticide  came  beneath  my  knowledge  in 
Utah,  though  the  affair  was  never  made  a  subject  of  public  scandal, 
because  this  of  all  things  is  most  carefully  avoided. 

(&.)  A  similar  occurrence  happened  at  Buffalo  a  short  time  since, 
and  was  widely  chronicled  by  the  newspapers  of  that  period. 

(/.)  Mr.  Garrison,  a  resident  of  Cumberland  county,  in  the  State 
of  New  Jersey,  became  infected  with  the  Mormon  delusion  some 
years  since.  He  was  married,  was  the  father  of  several  children,  and 
the  owner  of  a  handsome  property.  In  common  with  the  others,  he 
wished  to  emigrate,  but  Mrs.  Garrison  bitterly  opposed  the  scheme  • 
thus  their  family  peace  was  destroyed,  and  their  hitherto  happy 
household  became  the  scene  of  misery  and  strife. 

After  a  time,  the  husband  commenced  turning  all  his  available 
property  into  money,  besides  mortgaging  his  farm  to  the  full  extent 
of  its  value.  With  the  proceeds  in  his  pocket,  he  left  the  house  one 
night,  saying  that  he  was  going  to  call  on  a  neighbor.  Time  elapsed, 
still  he  came  not.  Mrs.  Garrison  became  alarmed  at  his  prolonged 
absence,  and  went  in  search  of  him.  The  neighbor's  family  had 


310  EXPLANATORY   NOTES. 

retired,  and  her  husband,  they  told  her,  had  not  been  to  their  house. 
A  search  was  instituted,  but  the  delinquent  could  nowhere  be  found. 
Why  prolong  the  story  ?  It  was  subsequently  ascertained  that  he 
had  gone  with  the  Mormons,  leaving  his  family  to  shift  for  them- 
selves. This  is  only  one  instance  among  a  thousand  of  equally  heart- 
less desertion. 


A  BOOK  FOR  EVERY  FAMILY  IN  THE  UNION. 


THE 


RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS 


IN   THE 


UNITED   STATES; 

THEIE  HISTORY,  DOCTRINE,  GOVERNMENT  AND  STATISTICS  ;  WITH 

A  PRELIMINARY  SKETCH  OF  JUDAISM,  PAGANISM, 

AND  MOHAMMEDANISM. 

BY  EEV.  JOSEPH  BELCHER,  D.  D. 

HONORARY   MEMBER  OF  THB   HISTORICAL  SOCIETIES  op  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  WISCONSIN, 

AUTHOR  OF   "WILLIAM  CAREY,  A   BIOGRAPHY,"   ETC.,  ETC.,    AND   "EDITOR 

OF  THE  COMPLETE  WORKS  OF  ANDREW  FULLER," 
"WORKS  OF  ROBERT  HALL,"  ETC.,  ETC. 


STANDING  on  the  broad  foundation  of  universal  Brotherhood,  this 
volume  gives  the  History  and  Present  Condition  of  some  Fifty  dif- 
ferent Sects,  pointing  out  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  each,  and  giving 
all  a  fair,  impartial,  and  reliable  hearing.  The  Publications  of  each 
Denomination  have  been  its  authorities ;  and  where  these  have 
failed  to  be  fully  satisfactory,  the  information  sought  for  has  been 
gained  by  direct  correspondence  with  some  of  its  prominent  mem- 
bers. Its  Statistical  Tables  are  very  full  and  complete  ;  while  the 
vast  amount  of  information  it  contains,  renders  it  invaluable  to 
the  student  as  a  book  of  reference  or  research.  A  warm  and  genial 
spirit  pervades  the  work  throughout ;  which,  with  its  short  and 
pithy  memoirs  and  numerous  illustrative  anecdotes,  will  tend  to 
ensure  it  an  eager  welcome  to  many  a  family  circle. 

It  is  in  one  royal  octavo  volume  of  1024  pages,  printed  in  a  clear 
and  open  type,  is  illustrated  with  nearly  two  hundred  Engravings, 
and  will  be  furnished  in  various  styles  of  binding  to  suit  every  taste. 

On  the  following  page  we  have  annexed  a  few  ont  of  many 
notices  received,  all  of  which  show  a  high  appreciation  of  it* 
merits. 


A  BOOK  FOR  EVERY  FAMILY  IN  THE  UNION, 


BELCHER'S  RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS.— "It  embodies  a  vast 
amount  of  information  relative  to  the  Origin,  History,  and  Missionary  Opera- 
tions of  the  different  Religious  Denominations  in  this  Country,  presented  in  a 
remarkably  interesting  and  attractive  manner.  With  respect  to  Binding', 
Paper,  and  Typography,  the  Book  may  be  regarded  as  a  model — a  Beautiful, 
Substantial,  and  Attractive  Volume." — Rev.  John  Dowling,  D.D.,  Author  of 
"The  History  of  Romanism,"  "Judson  Offering,"  etc.,  etc. 

BELCHER'S  RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS.— "The  plan  of  the  work 
is  good.  It  contains  an  immense  amount  of  very  desirable  information.  The 
Author  is  an  able  and  reliable  Writer."— J.  H.  Mills,  President  Oxford  Female 
College,  Oxford,  N.  C. 

BELCHER'S  RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS.— "I  have  read  a  copy 
of  Religious  Denominations  by  Belcher,  and  regard  it  as  containing  a  large 
amount  of  valuable  information." — Rev.  W.  E.  Booth,  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
Talbot  County,  Ga. 

BELCHER'S  RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS.— "To  great  and  various 
learning  and  marked  ability,  Dr.  Belcher  adds  that  precious  quality,  an 
abounding  charity  toward  all  his  brethren  of  the  human  race,  which  effectu- 
ally prevents  his  indulging  in  a  captious  or  acrimonious  treatment  of  their 
respective  Creeds.  He  allows  the  different  Sects  to  expound  their  own  Tenets 
and  give  their  reasons  for  adopting  them,  and  treats  every  man  as  a  Friend 
and  Brother." — North  American. 


BELCHER'S  RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS.— "  It  is  the  misfortune 
of  American  Christianity  that  Professors  of  the  several  Denominations  know 
too  little  of  the  faith  and  doings  of  those  not  within  their  own  pale.  Such  a 
book  as  this  serves  to  contribute  much  desirable  information  to  meet  that 
need." — Recorder  and  Register. 

BELCHER'S  RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS.— "Judging  from  the 
work,  it  would  be  difficult  to  say  what  are  the  Religious  Views  of  the  Editor, 
so  fairly,  so  dispassionately,  so  charitably,  has  he  treated  each  and  every  Sect. 
It  is  plain  that  a  noble  love  for  Truth  has  animated  the  Writer." — City  Item. 

BELCHER'S  RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS.— "In  narrative  and  bio- 
graphical  sketches,  the  Author  ranks  with  the  best  writers  of  our  Country. 
In  the  volume  before  us,  he  gives  well-written  sketches  of  the  Rise  and 
Progress  of  the  Denominations  in  this  Country,  a  statement  of  their  leading 
Tenets,  and  of  their  Numbers,  Institutions,  etc.,  relieved  by  many  historical 
and  personal  incidents  of  a  highly  interesting  Character." — Christian  Observer. 


BELCHER'S  RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS.— "  So  far  as  concerns 
Independence  of  Vision,  there  can  be  no  question,  as  Dr.  Belcher  surveys 
each  Sect  with  the  same  dispassionate  impartiality.  So  far  as  concerns  Style, 
it  gives  us  much  pleasure  to  say,  that  the  work  throughout  is  written  with 
both  precision  and  ease." — Episcopal  Recorder. 


For  single  copies  of  the  Book,  or  for  terms  to  Agents,  with  other 
information,  apply  to  or  address, 

JOHN  E.  POTTER,  Publisher, 

,     No.  617  Sansom  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


A  COMPANION  TO  THE  FAMILY  BIBLE. 


THE    LIFE 


Our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 

FROM 

His  Incarnation  to  His  Ascension  into  Heaven, 

BY   KEY.  JOHN    FLEETWOOD,    D.D. 

TO  WHICH   ARE  ADDED 

The  Lives  of  the  Holy  Apostles  and  .Evangelists,  a  History  of 
the  Jews,  and  an  Essay  on  the  Evidences  of  the  Bilile  j 

THE   WHOLE   CAREFULLY  REVISED 

BY  KEY.  JOSEPH  BELCHER,  D.D. 


An  examination  of  the  earlier  English  and  Scotch  editions  of  this 
valuable  and  popular  work,  led  to  a  knowledge  of  the  fact  that 
even  the  most  expensive  of  the  American  reprints,  as  well  as  those 
most  largely  circulated,  were  exceedingly  imperfect.  Whole  pages, 
and  frequently  many  in  succession,  were  found  to  he  altogether 
omitted.  Thus,  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  reduce  the  number  of 
pages  in  the  volume,  omissions  were  made  of  much  that  was  impor- 
tant to  meet  the  objections  of  infidelity,  and  to  silence  the  enemies 
of  Christ.  This  edition  has  been  thoroughly  revised  by  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Belcher,  and  with  the  omitted  passages  restored,  and  the 
manifold  mistakes  of  successive  printers  corrected,  the  Publisher 
has  the  pleasure  of  placing  before  the  public  the  most  correct  editioD 
in  existence  of  this  truly  great  work. 

(ill) 


A  COMPANION  TO  THE  FAMILY  BIBLE. 


11  The  life  of  Jesus  Christ  is  the  philosophy  of  true  religion.  It 
exhibits  the  principles  of  Christianity  in  their  purity  and  beauty. 
It  is  perfect  excellence  personified,  that  the  mind  of  man  may  grasp 
it  and  be  changed  into  the  same  image.  It  is  unlike  all  others  — 
so  sublime  as  to  excite  the  admiration  of  an  angel's  mind,  and  yet 
so  simple  as  to  be  intelligible  to  the  feeblest  intellect.  While  it  is  a 
perfect  example  to  be  imitated  by  all,  it  also  affords  to  the  sanctified 
scholar  a  lesson  of  untiring  and  unending  interest.  Does  he  admire 
magnanimity  ?  Nowhere  does  he  find  such  a  specimen,  as  in  the 
forgiving  spirit  of  Jesus.  Does  he  admire  sublimity  of  thought  and 
grandeur  of  conception  ?  He  sees  it  in  the  description  of  Jesus 
coming  to  judgment  — a  God  in  glory  and  a  world  on  fire  !  Is  he 
touched  and  thrilled  by  the  magic  of  eloquence  ?  While  he  listens 
to  Jesus,  he  is  constrained  to  acknowledge  never  man  spake  like  this 
ma  >.  Is  he  enamored  with  the  beauties  of  style  ?  Nowhere  can  he 
find  a  richer  feast  than  in  ,the  clearness,  unity,  strength  and  har- 
mony which  characterize  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount. 

Has  he  an  eye  to  relish  the  beauties  of  painting  ?  Jesus  as  a  moral 
painter  spreads  before  him  meadows  of  greenness  ;  and  fields  of  lilies. 
Has  he  a  taste  for  scenes  of  tenderness,  for  descriptions  which  stir 
the  heart,  and  open  the  fountains  of  feeling  ?  He  has  only  to  behold 
Jesus  weeping  over  Jerusalem,  and  listen  to  his  lamentation  !  He 
has  only  to  read  the  story  of  the  Prodigal  Son.  If  he  admires  courage 
— let  him  go  with  Jesus  among  those  who  had  converted  the  Temple 
into  a  den  of  thieves  ;  fortitude — let  him  follow  the  Man  of  Sorrows 
into  the  Garden,  or  stand  by  him  on  the  Cross  ;  condescension — let 
him  dine  with  him  at  the  table  of  the  Publican  and  witness  his 
marked  attention  to  little  children  ;  or  humility — let  him  stand  by 
and  behold  him  wash  his  disciples'  feet.  The  inspired  writers  have 
given  us  his  life  in  detached  descriptions.  Dr.  Fleetwood  has  ar- 
ranged these  into  one  harmonious  whole,  with  such  comments,  ex- 
planations and  incidental  information,  as  to  render  it  alike  accepta- 
ble to  the  scholar  as  to  'him  who  knows  no  more,  but  knows  his 
Bible  true.'  If  the  attentive  reader  finds  any  occasion  for  regret, 
it  will  only  be  when  the  last  page  meets  his  eye." 

It  is  printed  in  a  clear  and  jpen  type,  in  one  Royal  Octavo  Volume, 
and  is  Illustrated  with  appropriate  engravings,  printed  in  colors, 
or  with  fine  Steel  Plates,  engraved  expressly  for  the  work,  from  de- 
signs by  the  old  masters,  and  will  be  furnished  in  various  styles  of 
binding  at  prices  ranging  from  $2.00  to  $5.00. 
ADDKESS  ALL  ORDERS  TO 

JOHN  E.  POTTER,  Publisher, 

No.  617  Sansom  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


THE  PEOPLE'S  GREAT  BOOK. 


EVERYBODY'S    LAWYER 


AND 


COUNSELLOR  IN  BUSINESS, 

BY   FRANK    CROSBY,   ESQ., 

MEMBER  OF  THE  PHILADELPHIA  BAB. 


IT  TELLS  YOU  How  to  draw  up  PARTNERSHIP  PAPERS,  BONDS  and  MORT- 
GAGES, AFFIDAVITS,  POWERS  of  ATTORNEY,  NOTES  and 
BILLS  of  EXCHANGE,  and  gives  general  forms  for  AGREE- 
MKNTS  of  all  kinds,  BILLS  of  SALE,  LEASES,  PETITIONS, 
RECEIPTS  and  RELEASES. 

IT  TELLS  YOU  The  LAWS  for  the  COLLECTION  OP  DEBTS,  with  the  STA- 
TUTES of  LIMITATION,  and  amount  and  kind  of  Property 
EXEMPT  from  EXECUTION,  in  every  STATE  ;  also  how  to 
make  an  ASSIGNMENT  properly,  with  forms  for  COMPO- 
SITION with  CREDITORS,  and  the  INSOLVENT  LAWS  of  every 
State. 

IT  TELLS  YOU  The  legal  relations  existing  between  GUARDIAN  and  WARD, 
MASTER  and  APPRENTICE,  and  LANDLORD  and  TENANT; 
also  what  constitutes  LIBEL  and  SLANDER,  and  the  law  as 
to  MARRIAGE,  DOWER,  the  WIFE'S  RIGHT  IN  PROPERTY, 
DIVORCE  and  ALIMONY. 

IT  TELLS  YOU  The  Law  for  MECHANICS'  LIENS  in  every  State ;  and  the 
NATURALIZATION  LAWS  of  this  country,  and  how  to  com- 
ply with  the  same ;  also  the  LAW  concerning  PENSIONS, 
and  how  to  obtain  one,  and  the  PRE-EMPTION  LAWS  to 
PUBLIC  LANDS. 

IT  TELLS  YOU  The  Law  for  PATENTS  with  mode  of  procedure  in  obtaining 
one,  with  INTERFERENCES,  ASSIGNMENTS,  and  TABLE  of 
FEES;  also  how  to  make  your  WILL,  and  how  to  AD- 
MINISTER ON  AN  ESTATE,  with  the  law,  and  requirements 
thereof,  in  every  State. 

IT  TELLS  YOU  The  meaning  of  LAW  TERMS  in  general  use,  and  explains 
to  you  the  LEGISLATIVE,  EXECUTIVE  and  JUDICIAL  POW- 
ERS of  both  the  GENERAL  and  STATE  GOVERNMENTS  ;  also 
HOW  TO  KEEP  OUT  OF  LAW  by  showing  how  to  do 
your  business  legally,  thus  saving  a  vast  amount  of 
property,  and  vexatious  litigation,  by  its  timely  consul- 
tation. 

The  Book  gives  fulj  and  complete  forms  calculated  to  meet  almost  every  pos- 
sible business  contingency.  Its  directions  and  advice  are  alike  adapted  to 
every  State  in  the  Union,  and  are  not  only  reliable  but  are  given  in  so  clear 
and  distinct  a,  style  that  it  is  hardly  possible  for  a  misunderstanding  to  occur. 
It  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  man  and  woman  throughout  the  country 
as  a  guide  for  the  business  transactions  of  every-day  life.  Read  the  Notices 
»f  the  Press  on  the  following  page. 

(v) 


THE  PEOPLE'S  GREAT  BOOK. 


EVERYBODY'S  LAWYER  AND  COUNSELLOR  IN  BUSINESS.— "It 
embodies  in  some  400  pages  the  facts  of  a  whole  law  library,  admirably  con- 
densed, and  systematically  arranged.  It  must  take  a  very  high  rank  as  a 
hand-book  and  business  guide." — Pennsylvania1*. 


EVERYBODY'S  LAWYER  AND  COUNSELLOR  IN  BUSINESS.— "It 
contains  every  desirable  kind  of  legal  information,  and  will  be  the  means  of 
eaving  those  who  may  possess  a  copy  of  it,  a  great  deal  of  money  in  the  way 
of  fees,  besides  trouble  and  anxiety  in  the  matter  of  litigation.  The  price  is 
cheap  enough  in  all  conscience  for  an  amount  of  law  that  will  keep  one  out  of 
trouble  for  a  lifetime." — Pittsburg  Journal. 


EVERYBODY'S  LAWYER  AND  COUNSELLOR  IN  BUSINESS.— "One 
of  the  cheapest  and  best  publications  ever  issued.  It  is  of  interest  and 
value  to  every  citizen,  whether  he  is  engaged  in  business  or  not.  It  will  enable 
those  who  consult  its  pages  to  perform  certain  acts  intelligently  and  without 
expense,  which  are  now  costly  affairs.  We  commend  this  admirable  work  to 
general  attention." — United  States  Police  Gazette. 


EVERYBODY^  LAWYER  AND  COUNSELLOR  IN  BUSINESS.— "De- 
cidedly one  of  the  most  useful  and  popular  books  which  has  come  under  our 
notice.  It  seems  to  contain  everything  which  any  business  man  may  desire 
and  ought  to  know.  It  has  been  submitted  to  the  inspection  of  eminent  jur- 
ists and  legal  critics,  and  pronounced  reliable  and  authentic  in  the  informa- 
tion it  imparts.  Nobody  should  be  without  it." — Lancaster  Express 


EVERYBODY'S  LAWYER  AND  COUNSELLOR  IN  BUSINESS.— 
"Everything  is  full  and  to  the  point.  There  are  no  blanks  in  forms.  They 
are  filled  with  names,  dates,  recitals,  and  are  indeed,  actual  instruments  le- 
gally and  actually  drawn.  The  fact  is,  it  is  as  nearly  perfect  as  possible  ;  and 
we  venture  to  say,  that  any  one  who  purchases,  would  not  part  with  it  for 
five  times  the  price,  if  it  could  not  be  replaced. —  Westchester  Democrat. 


EVERYBODY'S  LAWYER  AND  COUNSELLOR  IN  BUSINESS.— "The 
book  before  us,  as  the  title  denotes,  is  just  such  as  everybody  must  have — to 
avoid  litigation,  and  the  trouble  and  expense  incident  to  a  lawyer's  office.  It 
must  have  cost  Mr.  Crosby  some  considerable  effort  to  have  put  forth  a  work 
that  will  so  materially  conflict  with  professional  fees  ;  and  much  labor  to  collate 
such  a  vast  amount  of  information." — National  Merchant. 

EVERYBODY'S  LAWYER  AND  COUNSELLOR  IN  BUSINESS.— «  Thfl 
sale,  we  are  credibly  informed,  has  reached  over  10,000  copies  a  month,  and 
the  demand  for  it  is  rapidly  increasing.  No  man  or  woman  in  the  country, 
no  matter  what  their  business  or  profession,  or  sphere  of  life,  ought  to  be  with- 
out it." — Evening  Reporter. 

It  contains  384  pages,  printed  in  a  clear  and  open  type,  and  will  be 
sent  by  mail,  neatly  bound  and  postage  paid,  to  EVERY  FARMER,  EVERY 
MECHANIC,  EVERY  MAN  OF  BUSINESS,  and  EVERYBODY^  EVERY  STATE,  on 
receipt  of  $1.00;  or  in  law  style  of  binding,  at  $1.25.  Address  all 
orders  to 

JOHN  E.  POTTER,  Publisher, 

No.  617  Sansom  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


WHAT  EVERYBODY  WANTS. 


THE    FAMILY    DOCTOH; 

CONTAINING 

SIMPLE  REMEDIES,  EASILY  OBTAINED,  FOR  THE 
CURE  OF  DISEASE  IN  ALL  FORMS. 

BY 

PROFESSOR  HENRY  S.  TAYLOR,  M.D. 


IT  TELLS  YOU  How  to  attend  upon  the  sick  and  how  t«  cook  for  them ; 
how  to  prepare  Drinks,  Poultices,  etc.,  and  how  to  guard 
against  Infection  from  Gontagous  Diseases ;  also  of  the 
Symptoms  of  Fever  and  Ague,  and  Bilious,  Yellow, 
Typhus,  Scarlet,  and  other  Fevers,  with  the  best  and 
simplest  remedies  for  their  cure. 

IT  TELLS  YOU  Of  the  various  diseases  of  Children,  and  gives  the  symp- 
toms of  Croup,  Cholera  Infantum,  Colic,  Diarrhoea, 
Worms,  Scalled  Head,  Ringworm,  Chicken  Pox,  etc.,  with 
the  best  and  simplest  mode  of  treatment;  also  of  Teething, 
Convulsions,  Vaccination,  Whooping  Cough,  Measles,  <fcc. 

IT  TELLS  YOU  The  Symptoms  of  Influenza,  Consumption,  Dyspepsia, 
Asthma,  Dropsy,  Gout,  Rheumatism,  Lumbago,  Erysip- 
elas, Cholera  Morbus,  Malignant  Cholera,  Small  Pox, 
Dysentery,  Cramp,  Diseases  of  the  Bladder,  Kidneys  and 
Liver,  and  gives  the  best  and  simplest  remedies  for  their 
cure. 

IT  TELLS  YOU  The  symptoms  of  Pleurisy,  Mumps,  Neuralgia,  Apoplexr, 
Paralysis,  the  various  diseases  of  the  Throat,  Teeth, 
Ear  and  Eye,  Epilepsy,  Jaundice,  Piles,  Rupture,  Dis- 
eases of  the  Heart,  Hemorrhage,  Venereal  Diseases,  and 
Hydrophobia,  and  gives  the  best  and  simplest  remedies 
for  their  cure. 

IT  TELLS  YOU  The  best  and  simplest  treatment  for  Wounds,  Broken  Bones, 
and  Dislocations,  Sprains,  Lockjaw,  Fever  Sores,  White 
Swellings,  Ulcers,  Whitlows,  Boils,  Scurvy,  Burns,  and 
Scrofula.  Also  of  the  various  diseases  peculiar  to  Wo- 
man, and  the  best  remedies  for  their  cure. 

The  work  is  written  in  plain  language,  free  from  medical  terms,  so  as  to  be 
easily  understood,  and  is  specially  adapted  to  family  and  individual  use.  Al- 
ways at  hand  and  ready  to  serve  you,  its  simple  recipes  may  soon  save -you 
much  suffering  and  many  times  the  cost  of  the  book.  Read  the  notices  of 
(he  Press  on  the  following  page. 

(Tli) 


WHAT   EVEKYBODY  WANTS. 


THE  FAMILY  DOCTOR.—"  It  will  be  a  treasure  of  wisdom,  health,  and 
economy  to  every  family  that  shall  purchase  and  use  it." — Philadelphia 
Family  Magazine. 

THE  FAMILY  DOCTOR.— "A  very  excellent  specimen  of  a  very  excellen 
class  of  books,  one  of  which  at  least  oughtto  be  in  every  family.  It  is  free  frou 
'medical  terms,'  gives  much  sound,  sensible  advice  as  to  the  preservation  of 
health,  and  may  be  commended  as  a  work  which  every  family  will  find  a  us 
for,  time  and  again,  during  the  year." — Philadelphia  Evening  Bulletin. 

THE  FAMILY  DOCTOR.—"  The  reader  will  find  many  excellent  pre- 
scriptions and  sound  admonitions  in  this  volume." — Godey's  Lady's  Book. 

THE  FAMILY  DOCTOR.— "The  general  directions  in  the  commencement 
of  the  volume  respecting  the  preservation  of  health,  are  very  judicious  and 
Valuable." — Presbyterian  Banner. 

THE  FAMILY  DOCTOR.—"  A  very  useful  book,  which  can  be  studied 
with  advantage." — Philadelphia  Ledger. 


THE  FAMILY  DOCTOR.— "The  descriptions  of  disease  are  clear,  and 
not  rendered  difficult  by  technical  terms.  It  will  be  useful  in  every  family, 
and  well  deserves  an  extensive  circulation." — Philadelphia  Dispatch. 


THE  FAMILY  DOCTOR.— "The  work  is  eminently  practical  and  bene- 
ficial. It  is  designed  to  aid  each  mother  in  the  prompt  relief  of  pain.  Its 
•wholesome  advice,  if  followed,  will  prevent  much  disease  and  suffering." — 
Philadelphia  Herald. 

THE  FAMILY  DOCTOR.— "We  are  much  pleased  with  the  Book,  and 
cheerfully  recommend  it  to  the  public  as  a  safe  counsellor  for  any  family." — 
Independent,  Rogersville,  Tennessee. 

THE  FAMILY  DOCTOR.— "  It  is  almost  indispensaole  in  every  family. 
It  treats  on  all  prevalent  diseases  connected  with  the  human  race,  for  which 
cures  are  given  that  are  within  the  reach  of  every  one." — Maryland,  Carroll 
County  Herald. 

THE  FAMILY  DOCTOR.— "This  is  a  plain  kind  of  Doctor,  and  talks  to 
us  in  plain  Language,  easily  understood  by  plain  people.  It  contains  many 
accurate  descriptions  of  diseases  of  children  and  adults,  and  many  excellent 
prescriptions  for  their  cure." — Sabbath  Jtecorder. 

It  contains  308  pages,  printed  in  a  clear  and  open  type  ;  is  illus- 
trated with  appropriate  engravings,  and  will  be  forwarded  to  any 
address,  neatly  bound,  and  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  $1.00. 

ADDRESS  ALL  ORDERS  TO 

JOHN  E.  POTTER,  Publisher, 

No.  617  Sansom  Street,  Pliiladtlplria,  Pa. 

(Till) 


Should  be  Read  by  every  Citizen  of  the  United  States 

NICARAGUA: 

PAST,  PBESENT  AND  FUTURE; 

A   DESCRIPTION   OF    ITS 

INHABITANTS,    CUSTOMS,    MINES,    MINERALS,    EARLY    HISTORY, 

MODERN  FILIBUSTERISM,  PROPOSED  INTER-OCEANIC 

CANAL,  AND  MANIFEST  DESTINY. 

BY  PETEE  F.  STOUT,  ESQ., 

Late  United  States  Vice-Consul. 


With  a  New  and  Improved  Map  of  the  Country,  appropriately 

Colored. 


With  a  population  sufficient  to  rouse  her  from  the  lethargy  of  the  Past,  with 
products  capable  of  placing  her  among  the  most  vigorous  nations,  and  with  a 
superabundance  of  mineral  wealth,  naught  seems  wanting  in  this  young  Re- 
public save  an  innate  spirit  of  enterprise.  Her  soil  is  generous,  and  to  the 
agriculturist  indeed  inviting.  Many  sections  are  admirably  adapted  to  the 
growth  of  Cotton,  or  to  the  cultivation  of  Sugar,  while  her  Tobacco  ranks 
high.  But  as  yet  her  vast  Mineral  wealth  yields  Gold  only  to  strangers, 
while  her  public  lands  are  unredeemed  from  total  neglect.  Disunion,  that 
baneful,  leprous  curse,  prowls  through  her  realm ;  and  Religion,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  her  first-born,  Education,  doubly  mourns  the  inattention  to  her  invo- 
cations. Lying  in  the  path  of  the  thriving,  enterprising  Republic  of  the  United 
States,  she  must  cither  rouse  from  her  apathy,  or  she  will  indeed  add,  in  a  few 
years,  but  one  more  star  to  our  banner. 

"  It  bears  evidence  of  being  written  in  a  masterly  style,  and  abounds  in  in- 
teresting historical  reminiscences  of  the  Mosquito  Kingdom.  The  work  is 
worthy  of  attentive  perusal ;  and  we  feel  satisfied  that  the  time  thus  spent 
will  be  amply  repaid  in  the  knowledge  obtained  of  the  Central  American 
States." — Baltimore  Republican. 

"  One  of  the  most  agreeably  written  Books  of  Travel  we  have  met  with  in  a 
long  time.  Its  style  Is  simple  without  poverty  of  expression,  and  elegant 
without  ostentation;  and  while  it  presents  its  pictures  in  a  soft  romantic  light, 
it  is  filled  with  valuable  and  accurate  information." — Porter's  Spirit  of  th« 
Times. 

It  is  printed  on  beautiful  paper,  in  a  clear  and  open  type,  is  neatly 
ound  in  cloth,  and  will  be  forwarded  to  any  address,  postage  paid, 
on  receipt  of  $1.25.     Address  all  orders  to  • 

JOHN  E.  POTTER,  Publisher, 

No.  017  Sansom  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
0*) 


THE 

EARLY  DAYS   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

EMBRACING 

WHAT  I  SAW  AND  HEARD  THERE, 

WITH  SCENES  IN  THE  PACIFIC, 
BY  COL.  J.  T.  FAKNHAM. 

Illustrated  12mo.     Cloth  Extra,          .....        $1.00 


AFFECTION'S    GIFT 

FOB 

THE  LOVING  AND  THE  LOVED 

POEMS. 

BY  JOHN  COLE  HAGEN. 

Illustrated  12mo.     Cloth,  Gilt, $100 


THE 

A    TOKEN     OF     LOVE. 

Illustrated  12mo.     Cloth,  Extra, $1  00 

ADDRESS  ALL  ORDERS  TO 

•  JOHN  E.  POTTER,  Publisher, 

No.  617  Sansom  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


